Grain size distribution and fluvial environmental implications of Sebou estuary (Morocco)

Abstract

The hydrodynamics and grain size distributions of sediment in estuarine and coastal environments provide important information on the material source, environmental events, and so forth. According to our knowledge, there is no research on the sediment characteristics of the entire Sebou estuary (Morocco), particularly, on the correlation between hydrodynamics and sediment properties. Grain-size analysis of estuary sediments along Sebou estuary (Morocco) has been carried out to reveal the depositional environment condition, energy and hydrodynamic conditions, as well as the mode of transportation along the study area. Linear discriminate analysis technique and bivariate plotting of grain size parameters are used to explain and understand the environment of sediment deposition. Hydrodynamic processes working during the deposition of sediments have been identified by CM plotting. As the mean grain size increased, sorting improved, and skewness became more positive and leptokurtic to very leptokurtic nature was observed in both periods. The spatial distribution indicates majority of sample fall in silt and clay category in both periods (i.e., spring and neap). Based on the CM pattern it was inferred that the sediment fall in rolling and suspension field. The sediments may be derived from offshore and catchment area deposits of the clay and silt, and evidence was found to suggest that these deposits are being eroded by tidal currents.

Keywords:

• Sebou estuary (Morocco)
• granulometric
• spatial
• fluvial environment
• spring period
• neap period

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge two anonymous reviewers for their scientific suggestions and constructive comments which led to significant improvements to the manuscript. Also, the authors would like to express their gratitude to: The colleagues (Dr. Amine ES-Saidi and Dr. Otman ELmountassir); and National Agency of Ports-Morocco, for their availability and help. Additionally, the authors specifically acknowledge to Dr. Chen, Z at University of British Columbia, Canada for English improvement.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article.