@article{fdi:010063190,
  title = {{L}ongshore drift cell development on the human-impacted {B}ight of {B}enin sand barrier coast, {W}est {A}frica},
  author = {{L}aibi, {R}. {A}. and {A}nthony, {E}. {J}. and {A}lmar, {R}afa{\¨e}l and {C}astelle, {B}. and {S}enechal, {N}. and {K}estenar, {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {B}ight of {B}enin is an open, microtidal, wave-dominated coast forming a 500 km-long mild embayment in the {G}ulf of {G}uinea, in {W}est {A}frica, between the {V}olta {R}iver delta in {G}hana, to the west, and the western confines of the {N}iger {R}iver delta in {N}igeria to the east. {T}he bight is exposed to energetic swells from the {S}outh {A}tlantic, and is characterised by {H}olocene sand barriers bounding lagoons. {T}he barrier system has been sourced essentially by sand supplied through the {V}olta {R}iver delta, terminus of a large river catchment of 397,000 km(2), although wave energy conditions and sand mineralogy also suggest inputs from the nearshore shelf. {T}he long-term pattern of barrier progradation in the {B}ight of {B}enin culminated in a mildly embayed coast wherein incident wave behaviour, beachface gradient and the longshore sand transport system were intimately linked, generating what may be classified as an 'equilibrium drift-aligned' coast with a unique and homogeneous longshore drift cell stretching from the {V}olta {R}iver delta to the {N}iger {R}iver delta. {T}his coast has, however, been significantly impacted over the last 50 years by the construction of three deepwater ports in {L}ome ({T}ogo), {C}otonou ({B}enin) and {L}agos ({N}igeria) that have intercepted sand supply, as well as by a major dam on the {V}olta {R}iver, resulting in destabilization of the former single drift cell on this coast. {T}he ensuing multi-cellular structure is characterised by long sectors. of rampant coastal erosion that threatens parts of these cities, coastal villages and infrastructure.},
  keywords = {wave-dominated coast ; drift-alignment ; deepwater ports ; coastal erosion ; {BENIN} ; {TOGO} ; {NIGERIA} ; {GHANA} ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {GUINEE} {GOLFE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {C}oastal {R}esearch},
  numero = {70},
  pages = {78--83},
  ISSN = {0749-0208},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.2112/si70-014.1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010063190},
}