Quantifying sediment flux under moderate wave energy on beaches south of Agadir, Morocco
More details
Hide details
1
Departement of Natural Environment, Planning and Socio-spatial Dynamics, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah University, Route Imouzzer Fès BP 2626, Fez, Morocco
2
Departement of natural environment, spatial planning, Abdelmalek Essaadi university, Martil Tetouan, B.P 210, Morocco
3
Departement. of Geography, Planning, Demography and Development, Ibn Zohr University, Hay Dakhla BP 29/S 8000, Agadir, Morocco
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2025; 1:78-91
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study presents the results of a real-time quantification of sediment transport through sand trapping on the beaches south of Agadir using Kraus 1987-type sand traps. The traps were installed in the wave breaking zone, measuring longshore, cross-shore and vertical sediment fluxes. A total of ten sites were studied, distributed across five beaches (Sidi Ouassai, Sidi Rbat, Tifnit, North Tifnit, and Sidi Toual), with three measurement points taken at each site (first breaker, Trough, last breaker). The results presented in this article only represent sediment transport rates measured under low- to medium-energy meteomarine conditions, as it is difficult to measure transport rates under high-energy conditions. The results obtained show a variation in sediment flux between the different measurement sites. The sediment fluxes recorded during the various measurement campaigns ranged from a maximum rate of 0.366 kg.s⁻¹.m⁻¹ to a minimum rate of 0.018 kg.s⁻¹.m⁻¹. The correlation between the total transport rate and the prevailing hydrodynamic forcing conditions during the different measurement campaigns indicates a strong link between the quantity of sand displaced and wave characteristics (height, period and angle of incidence). Sediment fluxes tend to rise in time where the significant wave height and period, as well as the slope of the bathymetric profiles, are increasing. In addition, sediment transport is highest at the last wave break at all measurement sites, confirming that sediment transport is higher near the shore. This spatial variability in sediment transport volume is accompanied by granulometric variability in the trapped sediments.