Estudo da influência da maré sob a remobilização do material em suspensão no período de enchente no canal do porto da barra grande, Icapuí- CE.

Abstract

Tidal channels are areas that the main transport agent is the tidal. Facing the bidirectional flow along the canal, non-vegetated sandy banks are formed, usually surrounded by vegetated mudflats, where occasionally the waterway traffic may be interrupted due to sediment accumulation around the banks. The Barra Grande Port, located in the city of Icapuí, Far East of Ceará, is used by the local community as a shipyard and anchorage for fishing boats, bordered by mangroves and salt marshes. The fishing activity is one of the principal pillars of the local economy, which has been hindering, due to the progressive siltation of the canal, making difficult to navigate the boats. This research aimed to analyze and evaluate the influence of flood tide on sedimentation and erosion rate within the channel, in order to assist management policies, raising aspects such as current speed and direction, material in suspension and morphology of channel sections. For that, measurements were made on the channel in a six-hour shift during the flood period, with sample of suspended material, regular channel depth level readings and current data acquisition. Given the samples and field observations, the researchers calculated the liquid and solid canal flow corresponding to the period, demonstrating the intense transport dynamics of suspended sediments in the channel. The results confirmed the strong sedimentary dynamics of the suspended material and the characterization of the local hydrodynamic behavior under the influence of the tide. Therefore, the results support research for the management of future coastal works, in order to remedy the continuous siltation of the channel that directly affects the economic and social activities of the region.