Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar, Département de Géographie, Laboratoire de Climatologie et d'études environnementales (LCE), BP 5005 Dakar, Senegal
The sedimentary dynamics of the littorals studied is governed by the northern swell which induces a north-south littoral drift and the continental sedimentary contributions transported essentially by the rivers. The aim of this study is to analyse the evolution of sandy spits in the northern part of the Rivières du Sud. The methodology adopted is based on diachronic mapping using Landsat satellite images acquired in 1973, 1986, 2003 and 2018. The results show that the morphological evolution of the Sankoye Spit and the Bird Peninsula is marked by the extension of their spatial coverage. The statistics for the Bird Peninsula show an extension of 116.89 ha between 1973 and 1986, a gain of 220 ha between 1986 and 2003 and a regression of 70.53 ha between 2003 and 2018. The Sankoye spit shows an elongation of its distal end in the direction of the dominant longshore sediment transport, thus dragging the mouth of Kalissaye progressively southwards. Its spatial and temporal evolution is marked by a spatial extension which goes from 603.32 ha in 1973 to 716.25 ha in 2018. For the tip of Cap Roxo, the statistics indicate an extension of 38.19 ha between 1973 and 1986, a regression of 7.75 ha between 1986 and 2003 and 2.02 ha between 2003 and 2018.