Hotaiba et al. (2026) Assessment of water use efficiency in arid ecosystems of the coastal land of Egypt using MODIS dataset

Identification

• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-05
• Authors: Amira M. Hotaiba, Boshra B. Salem, Marwa Waseem A. Halmy
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-67232-3

Research Groups

• Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Moharm Bek, P.O. Box: 21511, Alexandria, Egypt.

Short Summary

This study assesses the spatial and temporal patterns of water use efficiency (WUE) in coastal dryland ecosystems of Egypt over a 25-year period using MODIS dataset products. The results show high spatial variation in WUE pattern with absolute values ranging from below 1.0 × 10−3 g C mm−1 in sparsely vegetated zones up to 2.9 × 10−3 g C mm−1 in reclaimed lands.

Objective

• To analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of water use efficiency (WUE) in coastal dryland ecosystems of Egypt over a 25-year period.
• To identify key drivers of variation in WUE and their implications for ecosystem functioning under water-limited conditions.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: The study area covers the Mediterranean coastal zone of Egypt, extending for more than 1200 km and falling within the dry arid climatic region.
• Temporal Scale: The time range of the study was from 2000 to 2024, covering a 25-year period.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: MODIS dataset products (MOD17A2H and MOD16A2GF) were used for estimating gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET).
• Data sources: Satellite images from the Terra platform, including surface reflectance (MOD09A1), GPP (MOD17A2H), and ET (MOD16A2GF).

Main Results

• The results show high spatial variation in WUE pattern with absolute values ranging from below 1.0 × 10−3 g C mm−1 in sparsely vegetated zones up to 2.9 × 10−3 g C mm−1 in reclaimed lands.
• Reclaimed lands and reed vegetation showed consistently the highest values of WUE, while agriculture areas had moderate values with a slight downward trend after 2010.

Contributions

• This study provides valuable insights into the spatiotemporal variations of water availability and its impact on ecosystem functioning under water-limited conditions.
• The results can inform sustainable water and land management strategies in arid regions facing increasing water scarcity.

Funding

• Not specified.

Citation

@article{Hotaiba2026Assessment,
  author = {Hotaiba, Amira M. and Salem, Boshra B. and Halmy, Marwa Waseem A.},
  title = {Assessment of water use efficiency in arid ecosystems of the coastal land of Egypt using MODIS dataset},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-67232-3},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-67232-3}
}