The Bouknadel-Kenitra 20-km sandy coastline is of strong interest from the perspectives of beach amenity, tourism and erosion issues. This section of the Moroccan coastline has only received little attention in the literature so far and morphosedimentary characteristics as well as wave climate are poorly understood. The present paper provides the first extensive description of both wave climate and alongshore variability in the morphosedimentary behavior of these wave-dominated beaches, combined with accurate topographic surveys, 9-year long global wave model output time series and subsequently driven empirical longshore drift formula and shoreline change measurements from aerial photographs. Results show that the coast is mainly exposed to high-energy low steepness NW waves (mostly during the October-March period) generated in the North Atlantic by eastward traveling low pressure systems. Given the shoreline orientation, northward and southward longshore drift components generated by this wave regime nearly balance. In contrast, the lower-energy higher steepness N-NW wave regime (April-September period) contributes to an overall quantity of sand being transported southward similar to the yearly averaged net longshore drift. Beaches are mostly of the double-barred intermediate type. The southern beaches exhibit persistent rhythmic sandbars and rather steep beachface while the northern beaches are close to the dissipative state despite all the beaches are exposed to the same wave regimes. Beach states predicted using the Dean's number roughly match these observations. While previous studies elsewhere had shown that inherited geological factors may overwhelm contemporary dynamics in the determination of beach states, here differences are attributed to coastal protection works that appear to be important additional determinants of beach morphology.

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As part of a broad assessment of climate change impacts in Morocco, an assessment of vulnerability and adaptation of coastal zones to sea-level rise was conducted. The Kenitra coast is socio-economically vulnerable to accelerated sea-level rise, due to its low topography and its high ecological and touristic value. In this study, the effects of future relative sea-level were evaluated for the low alluvial plain Atlantic (Kenitra coastal). This study area is potentially subject to coastal flooding due to its very low topography and because it is affected by a considerable subsidence. Using a GIS-based inundation analysis; the evolution of erosion that occurred in the study area, the potential physical vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise was investigated, and the most vulnerable socio-economic sectors were assessed. Results indicate that 35% of the areas will be lost by flooding. In addition, the coast is progressive and regressive with an average rate at minimum (0.31 m/year) and at maximum (-2.39 m/year). Such results may help decision-makers in the implementation of preventive management strategies in the most sensitive areas.