Using automatic computation to analyze the rate of shoreline change on the Kenitra coast, Morocco

Abstract

The coastal zone is one of the nation׳s greatest environmental and economic assets. The present research focuses on analyzing the rate of shoreline change by automatic analytical techniques using multi-temporal photo-interpretation acquired in 1969, 1997 and 2009, a Geographical Information System (GIS) and a Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) along the coast of Kenitra, Morocco. To achieve our objective, the study area was divided into four beaches for analysis: Chlihat, Mehdia, SidiBoughaba and Nations. From the multidate shoreline maps, the rate of shoreline change was computed using End Point Rate, Linear Regression Rate and Weighted Linear Regression Rate. Furthermore, the shoreline was classified into eroding and accreting regions through GIS analysis. Accretion and erosion processes along the Kenitra coast (20km) were observed as 67% and 33%, respectively. The analysis of the obtained results shows that the coast is progressive and regressive with an average rate of 1.4m/year and 0.8m/year, respectively. The coastline has increased at Chlihat and Sidi Boughaba beaches while Nations beach and the northern part of Mehdia beach are in regression. In some parts of the research area, remarkable shoreline changes were observed for three periods.