The West African coastal barrier is maintained by significant wave-driven longshore sand transport. This sand originates from rivers and large coastal sand deposits. Today, however, much of the fluvial sand is trapped behind river dams and/or interrupted at several locations by port jetties. As a result, the sandy coastal barrier is eroding almost everywhere along its length.The aim of this study is to derive a large-scale sediment budget analysis, following a consistent approach, for the following countries: Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin, and pointing out the effects of major human interventions and climate change in this large common sediment system. The results are used as a basis to raise awareness among local governments and organizations on the effects and interdependency that major anthropogenic interventions (i.e. port jetties and river dams) and climate change (i.e. sea level rise, changes in wave climate, precipitation and temperature) may have on this shared sediment system. These detrimental effects can even occur in neighboring countries, as shown by some of the results. This estimation was carried out using a quantitative approach, based on one consistent numerical modelling system and validated with regional and local data.Based on the outcomes of the study, and with the support of a number of validation workshops in the different countries, suggestions are also provided for the setting up of a regional sediment management plan for the entire region.

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The flow velocities in tidal channels are already rather complex by the presence of various tidal components, wind driven flow and estuarine circulations. An extra level of complexity is introduced when the flow on top of an intertidal flat is considered (Le Hir, 2000). This research aims at understanding the complex flow patterns on top of a large-scale intertidal flat and on assessing the morphological consequences. The focus of this study is on the Roggenplaat, which is with an intertidal area of 14.6 km2 the largest intertidal flat fully surrounded by channels of the Eastern Scheldt (The Netherlands, see Figure 1). The flat is subject to a mean tidal range of 2.6 m and is characterized by a typical sediment grain size of 0.25 mm. Two large tidal creeks in the Northwest are the remainder of the merging of separate flats 80-150 years ago. Since the late 1980s, the flats in the Eastern Scheldt have been eroding severely because of the construction of a storm surge barrier and various compartment dams (Louters, 1998). A nourishment of 1.65 million m3 is planned on this flat for 2017, to compensate for its lowering. This study combines the results of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurement campaign with the results of a numerical model. Apart from validation material for the numerical model, the ADCP data is also analysed individually. The focus of this study is on the present-day hydrodynamics and morphodynamics of the Roggenplaat, which is essential knowledge for the design of appropriate nourishment strategies. Furthermore, physical insights achieved in this study are relevant for the understanding of other large-scale intertidal flats around the world.@en