Análise dos impactos ambientais causados em estuários: estudo do estuário do rio Acaraú, Ceará - Brasil

Abstract

The Basin of Acaraú is located to west of the capital from Ceará and he understands an area of 14.500Km², considered the second largest basin of Ceará. The researched area understood the area of the estuary of the river Acaraú with 80Km². The research analyzed in an integrated way the environmental attributes of the estuary of the river Acaraú, focusing the environmental impacts, as well as the identification of the environmental units and the use process and land occupation. The adopted methodology was consisted of cartographic risings, referring bibliographies to the area, aerial photography and satellite images for better identification of the natural units. The processing activities involved the digital image processing of remote sensing and the integration of data in structure of GIS (Geographical Information Systems). The obtained results were; the rising use and occupation, where emphasis was given in the shrimp farm activity that occupies good part of the areas of close swamps to the mouth of the river, the process of urban expansion and as measured to lessen of the impacts it was suggested the creation of an Area of Environmental Protection and an intensive program of environmental education with the local population.