Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) methods were used for karst research in the coastal area of Northwest Morocco near the city of Safi in order to identify karst landscapes, to describe karst features and to detect geological structures relevant to karst development. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of different satellite data, such as Landsat, RapidEye and IKONOS imagery, as well as ASTER- and SRTM-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) for the analysis of karst features. Dolines were identified by visual interpretations based on high resolution satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Digital image processing of the satellite data, such as deriving vegetation and water index images, helped to identify regions with relatively higher surface water input, where karstification processes might be more intense than in surrounding areas. ArcGIS-integrated weighted overlay tools were used for this purpose as well by aggregating of morphometric, causal factors (lowest and flattest areas) influencing the susceptibility to higher surface water input. Lineament analysis based on the different satellite data contributed to the detection of near-surface fault and fracture zones with potential influence on dissolution processes in sub-terrain waterways.

This study assesses the spatial distribution and contamination level of heavy metals in Safi Bay surface sediments. In this order, 28 surface sediment samples were retrieved from the study area and analyzed using the x-fluorescence method. To assess the contamination of the examined sediment, we used geo-ecological indices such as contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (DC), geo accumulation index, and pollution load index (PLI). The results show that only Pb and Cd present moderate and considerable contamination in some sampling sites, while other elements (Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni) indicate no contamination and low contamination by these elements. The inhomogeneous distribution of metal concentrations along the bay suggests different heavy metal sources. Given the ecological and socioeconomic importance of the study area, there is a need for a further analysis of both sediments and biological samples for a better understanding of the contamination levels and origin of metals, in addition to the sustainability of Safi Bay.

The coastal area of Safi between Cap Beddouza and Jorf Lihoudi is dominated by different forms of marine cliffs forming the coastline, with rock formations ranging from Jurassic to Quaternary. The main coastal geological risk is the instabilities of these cliffs due to the falls and collapses of the blocks, as well as landslides. The aim of this paper is to give detailed information on the rate of the cliff summit recession for the last 66 years, obtained by applying the DSAS model, in parallel with the identification of unstable elements, including their different parameters such as size, abundance, activity in time and their effect on the recession of the cliff top, which is fundamental information for the evolution the models of sea cliffs. These phenomena constitute a significant economical, social, and environmental risk.

Les dunes côtières posent un problème particulier pour les scientifiques en raison de la nature extrêmement dynamique de la plupart des systèmes plage-dune. Les dunes côtières peuvent changer de forme rapidement du fait de la violence des vents et des vagues lors des tempêtes. L'objectif de cette étude est d'analyser les tendances spatio-temporelles des changements du volume sédimentaire des plages et des dunes en utilisant différentes formules du transport éolien.Au cours de 24 campagnes de terrain, des pièges ont permis de récolter des particules transportées par le vent, afin de déterminer la taille des grains et la vitesse de cisaillement critique. Pour la taille des grains, le mode est compris entre 160 et 250 µm. La vitesse de cisaillement critique est de 0,23 m/s. Les vitesses de vent mesurées vont de 7,45 à 13,13 m/s. Les flux de transport varient de 0,19 à 1,14 kg/m/min. Les valeurs mesurées des flux ont été comparées avec les prédictions de différents modèles. La formule de BAGNOLD, utilisant la longueur de rugosité (zo) de 0,1 mm (S.M. ARENS, 1997) et la longueur d'ajustement (K = 1,2), s'est révélée avoir la meilleure capacité prédictive : pour chaque piège les prédictions sont dans l'intervalle de confiance de 95 % de la mesures avec une marge d'erreur estimée à 30 %.Le volume et la direction du transport net annuel ont été calculés avec la formule de BAGNOLD. Sur la plage El Haouzia il y a un flux de transport positif dans la direction du champ de dunes. Cela provoque une augmentation annuelle de la hauteur moyenne de la dune de plusieurs centimètres. Le transport éolien a été quantifié à partir de la formule de BAGNOLD calibrée sur le site. Un transit parallèle au rivage est probable, mais aucune accumulation sédimentaire (dune) en "fin de transit" n'a été observée.