Paisagem sonora e análise dos impactos causados por ruídos em parques eólicos na comunidade Xavier, Camocim, litoral oeste do Ceará

Abstract

Wind energy emerged in Brazil as an alternative to the energy crisis experienced in the 2000s. Since then, Ceará has received numerous wind farms, many of these located in areas of traditional communities. These developments modify the local landscape and bring with them strange characteristics to the natural environment of the communities, such as noise. This aspect is not already widely discussed in the Brazilian legislation, which has parameters for different situations, but does not specifically address noise from wind turbines. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate noise levels and analyze how the residents from Xavier Community, Camocim-CE, perceive the noise of the towers and what changes were caused in the daily life of the community and local sound landscape. In order to carry out this work, bibliographical researches were made alongside with visits to the study area, noise measurement in the surroundings of the park during day and night periods, questionnaire applications, mapping and analysis of the results obtained. In the community, noise levels ranged between 34 and 57,2 dB(A) during daytime and 46,2 and 60,4 during night. During the day, there was a decrease as the distance from the park increased. However, noise levels similar to those close to the towers in the daytime and night periods were found in the last houses, approximately 1 km away. This may indicate that the park has an influence on the local sound pressure, however, the sum with the environmental factors has a greater contribution to determine the levels found. Although, this does not make them imperceptible, since the noises from the towers are perceived by the majority of the community inhabitants and cause discomfort in 25% of the interviewed ones. More than eighty percent of the interviewees (81.2%) perceive the noise. It was observed that the feeling of discomfort is present in those people who led the community fight seeking compensation from the company and that, due to the environmental impacts caused by the venture, oppose the existence of the park. Despite this, no significant damage to the community customs and daily habits was identified in relation to the noise presence. The park is now seen, after almost ten years of installation, as a secondary element of the community, since 13 people, in an universe of 16 interviewed, agree totally or partially that the towers are already part of the community landscape and only four are annoyed to see them.