Changes in coastal sedimentary environments and remote sensing data in French Guiana

Abstract

Present-day morphological shoreline changes in French Guiana are very dynamic, striking and specific, directly linked to the huge Amazon discharge. One part of this supply moves in suspension offshore: the other part (some 110 million m3/year) moves in the form of vast migrating shoreface-attached mudbanks, separated one from the other by erosional interbank zones. The shoreline is continually changing and a specific sedimentation pattern characterizes the coastal area. Remote Sensing Data processing (LANDSAT MSS and SPOT) is being widely used (ORSTOM-Cayenne). -from Author