Coastal erosion in the Mediterranean: climate and anthropization in Tunisia

The Tunisian coastline, representative of Mediterranean coasts vulnerable to climate change, sea-level rise and human pressures, shows widespread erosion affecting both natural and urbanized sectors. Three areas were analyzed: Rafraf, the Gulf of Tunis (Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued) and Hammamet. At Rafraf, a groyne favors accretion upstream, but causes a sediment imbalance downstream. Between Port aux Princes and Sidi Daoued, despite the absence of major anthropogenic pressures, the retreat of the coastline over the last century is linked to sea-level rise and local hydrodynamics. In Hammamet, recent erosion has been accentuated by urbanization and increased hydrodynamic energy, leading to a change in sediment grain size. These results underline the central role of littoral cells and the importance of integrated, sustainable management of Mediterranean coasts, based on an understanding of natural processes and adaptation to climate change.