Sea-level rise impact on the evolution of a microtidal Mediterranean coastline without human-made structures—a case of the Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued coastline, Gulf of Tunis, NE-Tunisia

The evolution of the natural and pristine Mediterranean coastline Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued (Gulf of Tunis, NE-Tunisia) is studied during the period of 1887–2010 on the basis of an ancient minute of bathymetry (1887) and aerial photographs treated by numerical photogrammetric methods. Morphological changes of the coastline shows a general retreat despite the absence of the various anthropogenic actions. Adding to the drift currents and the currents of high energy that are generated by the N-W dominant waves along steeply sub-marine funds, the erosion is mainly due to the sea level rise which increased since the beginning of the 2000s. The Port aux Princes-Sidi Daoued coastline works as a single littoral cell limited by Jbel Korbous to the SW and the fishing harbor of Sidi Daoued to the N-E.