Chapter 10 Recent sedimentation in the NW African shelf

Abstract

Abstract A review of the data gathered over the last five decades on the NW African continental shelf within numerous research programmes shows that the sedimentary processes along the shelf are driven by long-term factors such as Quaternary glacial–interglacial periods and shelf morphology, and by short-term factors such as fluvial and aeolian sediment supply, local climate (temperature, rainfall and wind) and hydrodynamic conditions (tides, swell, longshore current, the Canary Current and upwelling). Based on the sedimentary characteristics, the margin has been subdivided into four segments: northern Morocco (30–36°N) and the Grande Côte of Senegal (15–16°30′N) show long mid-shelf mud belts controlled by fluvial input and low hydrodynamic energy; southern Morocco–Mauritania (16°30′N–30°N) and the Petite Côte south of Cape Vert, Gambia and Casamance (12–15°N) are dominated by biogenic and aeolian sands or no sediment input. In this chapter, we present a synopsis of the state of knowledge on the NW African shelf sediments and processes based on various published and unpublished documents.