Morfodinâmica da Enseada do Estuário de Curu – Brasil

Abstract

Estuaries are coastal environments that are transitory in nature who have suffered various environmental impacts and significant changes in the morphology of the mouth of estuaries due to the anthropogenic activities performed within the watershed and coastal processes. Because of this, the present work has as main objective to obtain more meaningful information concerning the progress of the morphodynamics of estuarine mouth to identify risky areas for urban development. The study area is located on the border between the municipalities of Paraipaba and Paracuru, 85 km from Fortaleza, in the northwest portion of the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. To perform this research were used: multitemporal satellite images, Global Positioning System, total station and sediment samples. Between the years 2001 and 2007, there was a 622.00 m spit progradation of the right bank, with a rate of 103.65 m.year-1. It has been verified the width losses width of 33.5 m in the sandy spit. In 2007, there was a migration of 29.99 m spit, which implies a rate of 2.50 m.mouth-1. The arrival of swell waves in November 2007 resulted in a loss of 10 m wide beach. The sediments showed particle size ranging from fine sand to very coarse, moderately to poorly sorted. Among the risks areas mapped for urban expansion in this study, there is an entire coastal strip located 2.5 km west and 800 m is situated east of the river mouth Curu.