Remote sensing monitoring and analysis of spatial and temporal variability characteristics of the Pearl River Estuary coastline

As a key boundary of ecological and resource systems, coastline change critically affects regional sustainability. This study focuses on the Pearl River Estuary and applies a "remote sensing–spatio-temporal analysis–mechanism analysis" approach to monitor coastline evolution from 2000 to 2024. Results reveal a spatial pattern of "siltation in the west, erosion in the east, and advancement in the center," with a temporal shift from natural to human-driven changes. The shoreline has transformed from natural mudflats and sandy coasts to artificial straight lines, with land reclamation and urban expansion identified as the primary driving forces.