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Seasonal changes and morphodynamic behavior of a high-energy mesotidal beach: case study of Charf el Akab beach on the North Atlantic coast of Morocco

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Abstract

The morphodynamic behavior of a mesotidal sandy beach was monitored during both calm and energetic conditions. Two years of seasonal surveys were carried out on Charf el Akab, a gently sloped beach in the North Atlantic coast of Morocco. The method of survey consisted of a 3D study of the beach morphological changes and provided 2 cm vertical accuracy. During the surveyed period, Charf el Akab beach underwent very energetic wave conditions, and the breaking wave height was of H b ≥ 1.5 m. The beach is characterized by a nonpermanent swash bar and composed of well-sorted medium sand. The application of environmental parameters revealed a dissipative state with very low beach gradient which did not vary significantly over the studied period. Morphological changes consist of beach erosion and bar decay under high-energy waves, whereas the intertidal bar re-established and the beach recorded an accentuated accretion due to relatively fair weather conditions. The beach volume reveals a seasonal behavior; the sand accumulated during summer is dramatically removed during winter season. The range in beach sand volume from the most accreted to the most eroded conditions observed is about −5,493 m3. The average sand volume flux between surveys reaches −1 and 0.4 m2/day during peak erosion and accretion periods. The relationships between the wave forcing and the sand volume adjustments were examined. The sand volume change was found to be highly correlated (0.91) with the wave energy flux. The highest correspondence (0.95) was found between the sand flux rate and the wave energy flux. The wave forcing is expected to be the main factor governing beach morphodynamics at Charf el Akab site.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Moroccan PROTARS III D16/07 and the French-Moroccan AI MA/06/159 (Programme Volubilis). The principal author was sponsored by a PhD studentship provided by the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research of Morocco. We would like to thank J.A. Martinez del Pozo and Emma Bello (University of Cadiz) for field assistance during the first and second surveys. Thanks to M’fedal M’rabet for revising the English of an earlier version of this manuscript. We appreciate the comments by the journal’s reviewers which significantly improved the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, BP 2121-93002, Tétouan, Morocco

    Mohammed Taaouati, Driss Nachite & Abdelmounim Elmrini

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain

    Javier Benavente

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  1. Mohammed Taaouati
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  2. Driss Nachite
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  3. Javier Benavente
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  4. Abdelmounim Elmrini
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Correspondence to Mohammed Taaouati.

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Taaouati, M., Nachite, D., Benavente, J. et al. Seasonal changes and morphodynamic behavior of a high-energy mesotidal beach: case study of Charf el Akab beach on the North Atlantic coast of Morocco. Environ Earth Sci 64, 1225–1236 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0937-8

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