Abstract

The Manche-à-Eau lagoon, brackish water ecosystem is subject to tide, trade winds and hurricanes. The 2004 map (IGN) is covered of a 90 m aside square, to place 37 spots in a GIS and to limit them on the field with a GPS. From aerial photos, the outlines drawing allows morphological follow up since 1950. Depth is measured at 1437 spots with bathymetric perch and prob. Stream direction is established during stream and ebb tide using ribbon fixed to the spot and a compass. Water volumes at low and high tide allow calculating the water renewal rate, at each tide. The mapping follow-up shows outlines and island stabilization because of the “shield effect” and soil (root peat), small islands aggregation/disaggregation depending of hurricanes passing. The present bathymetry shows the lagoon filling and the channels digging. General streams are subject to trade-winds (SSE-NNW) and the tide movement to and fro. The up and down water generates a stream channel situated along the outlines and around dips and sandbanks. Water renewal volume (14.8 %) at each tide, combined with an active and various hydrodynamism tends to improve the water quality in this system.

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