KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced on Monday the establishment of the first sea level monitoring station in the Arabian Gulf, marking a major step in national efforts to support sustainable coastal planning and strengthen resilience against the impacts of climate change, particularly rising sea levels. In a press statement, KISR said the new station — developed by the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center — provides real-time data and serves as a vital tool for accurately monitoring changes in the coastal environment.

The institute noted that the initiative aligns with national objectives to safeguard coastal infrastructure and promote scientifically guided development. KISR is also working to expand its coastal monitoring network by adding more stations across the country. These efforts aim to provide accurate environmental and climate data that can support optimal planning of future infrastructure projects and enhance Kuwait’s adaptive capacity in the face of climate-related challenges.

Dana Al-Houti, project lead and researcher at the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, said the main goal of the station is to provide reliable, science-based information that helps relevant authorities manage and plan coastal areas more effectively. Al-Houti noted that the station has been strategically located at the Scientific Center in Kuwait, situated in the northwest of the Arabian Gulf, providing an ideal central point along the country’s coastline. She emphasized that this location enables the station to deliver precise and actionable data, while also serving as an educational platform for students and the wider community.

Equipped with dual sensors to measure sea level above and below the water surface, the station transmits real-time data to a central database at KISR. The data is also shared with the global scientific community to support broader international climate monitoring initiatives. Al-Houti further acknowledged the contributions of several researchers involved in the project, including Dr Yousef Al-Asiri, Dr Al-Anoud Al-Raqam, Dr Muhammad Al-Khalidi, Ali Hammad and Engineer Fares Al-Amer. — KUNA