Skip to main content
Log in

Sea-level rise impact on the evolution of a microtidal Mediterranean coastline without human-made structures—a case of the Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued coastline, Gulf of Tunis, NE-Tunisia

  • Published:
Acta Oceanologica Sinica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The evolution of the natural and pristine Mediterranean coastline Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued (Gulf of Tunis, NE-Tunisia) is studied during the period of 1887–2010 on the basis of an ancient minute of bathymetry (1887) and aerial photographs treated by numerical photogrammetric methods. Morphological changes of the coastline shows a general retreat despite the absence of the various anthropogenic actions. Adding to the drift currents and the currents of high energy that are generated by the N-W dominant waves along steeply sub-marine funds, the erosion is mainly due to the sea level rise which increased since the beginning of the 2000s. The Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued coastline works as a single littoral cell limited by Jbel Korbous to the SW and the fishing harbor of Sidi Daoued to the N-E.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anfuso G, Martínez-del-Pozo J Á, Rangel-Buitrago N. 2013. Morphological cells in the Ragusa littoral (Sicily, Italy). Journal of Coastal Conservation, 17: 369–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso G, Pranzini E, Vitale G. 2011. An integrated approach to coastal erosion problems in northern Tuscany (Italy): Littoral morphological evolution and cell distribution. Geomorphology, 129: 204–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berenguer J M, Enriquez J. 1988. Design of Pocket Beaches, the Spanish Case. In: Proceedings 21st Coastal Engineering Conference. Malaga, Spain: American Society of Civil Engineers, 1411–1425

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird E. 2000. Coastal Geomorphology. An introduction. Chichester, John Wiley and Sons, 322

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouhafa T. 1985. Erosion and Protection of the Gulf of Tunis beaches. Tunis: Faculty of Human Sciences of Tunis, 100

    Google Scholar 

  • Church J A, Clark P U, Cazenave A, Gregory J. M. at al. 2013. Sea level change. In: Stocker TF, Qin D, Plattner G K et al. (eds). Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1137–1216

    Google Scholar 

  • Church J A, White N J. 2006. A 20th century acceleration in global sea level rise. Geophysical Research Letters. 33, L01602. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL024826.

    Google Scholar 

  • El Arrim A. 1996. Study of Sedimentary dynamics and amenities Impacts on the stability of the Gulf of Tunis littoral [dissertation]. Tunis: University Tunis El Manar, 208

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasdaoui A. 2005. Contribution to the quantification of sea-atmosphere exchanges along Tunisian coasts. Master in Hydrodynamics and modeling of coastal environments. Tunis: National Institue of Engineers of Tunis, 71

    Google Scholar 

  • Heberger M, Cooley H, Herrera P, et al. 2009. The impacts of sea-level rise on the California coast. California: California Climate Change Center, 101

    Google Scholar 

  • Inman D L, Frautschy J D 1966. Littoral processes and the development of shorelines. Proceeding of Coastal Engineering Speciality Conference Santa Barbara. California: American Society of Civil Engineers

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouki A. 1984. Contribution to the Sedimentary Dynamics in the Gulf of Tunis [dissertation]. Nantes, France: University of Nantes, 168

    Google Scholar 

  • Lionello P, Conte D, Marzo L, et al. 2017. The contrasting effect of increasing mean sea level and decreasing storminess on the maximum water level during storms along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the mid 21st century. Glob Planet Change, 151: 80–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louati M, Zargouni F. 2009. Topo-bathymetric modeling and sedimentary transit. Example of the sandy beaches of the Tunis Bay, NE-Tunisia. Geomorphology: relief, processus, environnement, 15(3): 211–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Louati M, Zargouni F. 2013. The coastline between the recent mouth of Miliane River and Soliman, Tunisia. Analysis of shoreline evolution by photo-interpretation and Geographic Information System. Géomorphologie: relief, processus, environnement, 2, 19(2): 209–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry P, Carter R W G. 1982. Computer simulation and delimitation of littoral drift cells on the south coast of Co. Wexford, Ireland. Journal Heart Science. Dublin Society, 4: 121–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Mignot C. 1988. Sedimentary Hydrodynamic, Erosion and Littoral Sedimentation. First part: Sedimentary Hydrodynamic. France: Faculty of Sciences of Orsay-Paris South, 140

    Google Scholar 

  • Nouri Y. 1979. Geomorphologic aspects and recent evolution of the Gulf of Tunis coastline [dissertation]. Tunis: Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, 89

    Google Scholar 

  • Nouri Y, Paskoff R. 1980. Remarks on the Recent behaviour of beaches in the funds of the Gulf of Tunis. Tunisian Review of Geography, 6, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, 145–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Ottmann F. 1965. Introduction to marine and littoral Geology. Edition Masson and Cie, 81–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Oueslati A. 1993. The coastlines of Tunisia: Geomorphology et environnement et aptitude to management. Serie 2: Geography, Volume XXXIV, 381

    Google Scholar 

  • Oueslati A. 1994. coastlines of Tunisia, Researchs on their evolution in the Quaternary. Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of Tunis, 402

    Google Scholar 

  • Oueslati A. 2004. Littoral et management in Tunisia, Edition ORBIS, 534

    Google Scholar 

  • Paskoff R. 2005. Will the beaches disappear?. Small apples of knowledge, Edition Apple tree, 58

    Google Scholar 

  • Patsch K, Griggs G. 2006. Littoral cells, sand budgets, and beaches: understanding California’s shoreline, 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Pope J, Dean J L 1986. Development of design criteria for segmented breakwaters. In: Proceedings of 20th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, Taipei, 2149–2158

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosati J D, Gravens M B, Chasten M A. 1992. Development of detached breakwaters design criteria using a shoreline response model. Coastal Engineering Practice, 92: 814–882

    Google Scholar 

  • Saïdi H. 2004. Study of the Sedimentary dynamic of the littoral fringe Sidi Bou Saïd-La Goulette. DEA, Geology, Tunis: Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 125

    Google Scholar 

  • Saïdi H. 2013. Study of the sedimentary dynamic and coastline evolution of the Gulf of Tunis (NE-Tunisia). PhD, Geology, Tunis: Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 244 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Saïdi H, Souissi R, Zargouni F. 2012. Environmental impacts of single and successive breakwaters along the Mediterranean coastline at Radès–Ezzahra, NE Tunisia. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and Environment, doi: 10.1007/s10064-011-0411-6

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sliti M. 1984. Contribution to the study of the littoral morphologic dynamic in the Gulf of Tunis. DEA. Earth Sciences, option: water and environnement. Tunis: Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 56

    Google Scholar 

  • Shom 2004. Tides Directory, Volume 1 -Ports of France. Printing of the Main Establishment of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy, Brest, 192

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rijn L C. 2010. Coastal erosion control based on the concept of sediment cells. Report of the project: Concepts and Science for Coastal Erosion Management, 76

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerbini S, Raicich F, Maria Prati C, Bruni S, Del Conte S, Errico M, Santi E. 2017. Sea-level change in the Northern Mediterranean Sea from long-period tide gauge time series. Earth-Science Reviews, 167: 72–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeggaf Tahri M. 1993. Study of the impact of the protection structures on the environment of the littoral of the Gulf of Tunis. Tunis: University Tunis El Manar, 77

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeggaf Tahri M. 1999. Study of the impact of the protection structures on the sedimentary dynamics of the Gulf of Tunis and of the northern coastline of Mahdia. PhD in Geology. Faculty of Sciences of Tunis. Tunis: University Tunis El Manar, 1–144

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the KNMI/ERA-40 Wave Atlas for furnishing data about dominant waves (significant height) in NE-Tunisia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanen Saïdi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saïdi, H., Zargouni, F. Sea-level rise impact on the evolution of a microtidal Mediterranean coastline without human-made structures—a case of the Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued coastline, Gulf of Tunis, NE-Tunisia. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 38, 72–77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-018-1331-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-018-1331-0

Key words

Navigation