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Superficial and cored sediment samples from the Moulay Bousselham lagoon and sub-watershed were analyzed for Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr, As, Hg, and Cd. The temporal and spatial distributions of the main contamination sources of heavy metals were identified and described using chemometric and geographic information system (GIS) methods. Sediments from coastal lagoons near urban and agricultural areas are commonly contaminated with heavy metals, and the concentrations found in surface sediments are significantly higher than those from 50-100 years ago. The concentrations of these elements decrease sharply with depth in the sediment column, and the elements are preferentially enriched in the <2-μm-sized fraction of the sediment. The zones of enhanced risk of heavy metals were detected by means of GIS-based geostatistical modeling. According to sediment pollution indices and statistical analysis, heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Hg) that pose a risk have become largely enriched in the lagoon sediments during the recent period of agricultural intensification.

International audienceThis paper presents an integrated method to assess the vulnerability of coastal risks by applying the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and spatial analysis techniques with a geographic information system (GIS). The coast of Mohammedia, located in Morocco, was chosen as the study site to implement and validate the proposed framework by applying a GIS-FAHP-based methodology. Coastal risk vulnerability mapping reflects multi-parametric causative factors such as sea level rise, significan twave height, tidal range, shoreline evolution, elevation, geomorphology and distance to an urban area. The results show that the coastline of Mohammedia is characterised by low, moderate and high levels of vulnerability to coastal risk. The high vulnerability areas are situated in the east at Monica and Sablettes beaches. This technical approach helps decision-makers to find optimal strategies and to minimise coastal risks. In comparison with other assessment methods, this approach involves rapid data processing and provides an improved means of sustainable and multi-objective coastal management. Keywords Coastal risk vulnerability, Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, Digital Shoreline Analysis System, coastal hazard, coastal management

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