Susceptibilidade a deslizamentos de massa no maciço residual Serra da Meruoca, Nordeste do Brasil-CE

Abstract

The Meruoca Mountain stands out as an exceptional environment within the context of the Northeastern Semiarid region, given its geomorphological and climatic characteristics that differ significantly from adjacent areas. Its steep topography, with elevations ranging from 600 to over 1.000 meters, coupled with the advancements in natural resource exploitation and the expansion of anthropized areas through degradation over the years, are the main factors contributing to an unstable state in the Meruoca Mountain, even fostering the occurrence of natural disasters. This study aims to identify sectors with a higher susceptibility to mass movements, taking into account geomorphology as a fundamental criterion for analysis. The methodology used mapped the relief of the massif into four subcompartments: summit, slope, alluvial plain, and valley floor. The degree of susceptibility for each class was then determined based on the analysis of the dominant dynamics in each mapped compartment (areas producing material/sediments, erosion, and sedimentation). The research is divided into three stages: documentary bibliographic surveys, the development of basic and thematic cartography, and data integration and propositions. As a result, it was observed that the regions most susceptible to landslides are those corresponding to the slopes, where the rugged topography, combined with environmental degradation, confers a high degree of instability to this relief compartment. Therefore, the need for mitigation and monitoring actions in the Meruoca Mountain, especially on its slopes, is evident.