Shoreline change assessment and Wave Modeling on the Mostaganem Coast, Algeria

Abstract

Abstract The coastal area of Sidi Madjedoub East to Oureah West is a very interesting and remarkable place. In the last 20 years, it is exposed to a series of natural and anthropogenic processes that generate short and long time variation. This research is based on the spatial-temporal analysis of the shoreline change along the coast between Sidi Madjedoub to Oureah, by using aerial photographs (2003) and quick-bird satellite images (2014 and 2023). The shoreline changes were calculated on 720 transects generated at intervals of 20 m. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) was used on the modelled shoreline. The results reveal that most of the area studied is undergoing erosion, with a mean rate change of -0.28 meters per year for the whole coast. In addition, numerical modelling of wave propagation was applied out using the Mike 21 model to get a better understanding of the influence of coastal hydrodynamics to shoreline change. This change in shoreline is principally due to human activities (sand mining, urbanization) and natural factors (currents, waves, storms). We can conclude that coastal morphology and the erosion and accretion of coastal zones are influenced by both natural and human activities.