A note on contrasting morphodynamics of two beach systems with different backshores, Tetouan coast, northwest Morocco: the role of grain size and human-altered dune morphology

• Published in: Journal of coastal research 2013-01, Vol.65 (sp2), p.1283-1288
• Main Authors: El Mrini, Abdelmounim, Anthony, Edward J., Taaouati, Mohammed, Nachite, Driss, Maanan, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: beach-dune management; Beach-dune sand exchange; DUNES AND AEOLIAN TRANSPORT; Mediterranean coast; storms
• ISSN: 0749-0208; 1551-5036
• DOI: 10.2112/SI65-217.1

El Mrini, A., Anthony, E.J.,Taaouati, M., Nachite, D. and Maanan, M., 2013. A note oncontrastingmorphodynamics of two beach systems with different backshores, Tetouan coast, northwest Morocco: the role of grain size and humanaltered dune morphology. In: Conley, D.C., Masselink, G., Russell, P.E. and O'Hare, T.J. (eds.) The Mediterranean coast of Tetouan, in Morroco, comprises headland-bound beach-dune systems bordering small coastal plains that have been considerably altered by socio-economic activities and coastal infrastructure essentially related to tourism development. To analyze the response of the beach-dune systems to high-energy winds and storms, three successive surveys covering storm and fair-weather conditions were conducted in February and March 2008 in two sites with contrasting grain-size and morphological characteristics. Ksar Rimal beach is characterized by coarse to very coarse sand and the finer-grained dunes on the backshore have been largely flattened, while Cabo Negro beach exhibits fine sand but the aeolian dunes associated with this beach are still partly intact. The results show that morphological changes are larger and faster on Ksar Rima beach (modally intermediate to reflective) than on Cabo Negro beach (modally intermediate to dissipative). The former beach has a greater tendency to erosion during storms but also shows rapid recovery expressed essentially through berm cut and fill. Mild aeolian accretion seaward of a recently constructed wall on the upper beach also occurred under the influence of strong offshore winds. The changes on Cabo Negro beach were relatively mild and were dominated by dune reworking. Sand transported from the dunes to the beach was reworked into a large swash bar, prelude to landward sand recycling towards the source dunes.