Intertidal sedimentary dynamics in Mont-Saint-Michel bay, a study of its natural evolution and man-made modifications

Mont-Saint-Michel Bay exhibits dynamic sedimentary processes shaped by tidal and swell interactions, leading to the migration of coarse bioclastic sands at rates of several dozen meters per year. These sands accumulate on upper tidal flats, forming a relatively stable but non-continuous coastal barrier composed of large shell banks. The eastern part of the bay, an estuarine zone, shows constrained morpho-dynamics due to shifting channels, while sedimentary accretion around Mont-Saint-Michel varies from 0.2 to 10 cm/year, depending on the salt marsh front's context. Salt marshes advance at approximately 17 hectares per year, contributing to the bay's gradual infilling over millennia. Human activities, such as fixed fisheries, shellfish farming, polder formation, and dike construction, have further altered the landscape, with historical reconstructions providing insight into these changes.

BONNOT-COURTOIS, C. (2020). Intertidal sedimentary dynamics in Mont-Saint-Michel bay, a study of its natural evolution and man-made modifications. Revue Paralia, 13, n02. https://doi.org/10.5150/revue-paralia.2020.n02