Influência da morfologia praial na capacidade de carga física da Praia da Taibinha, Ceará

Abstract

This study analyzes the influence of the morphological and morphodynamic characteristics of Taibinha Beach, located on the western coast of the state of Ceará, Brazil, on Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC), considering the spatial and temporal variation of the beach area available for recreational use within a specific monitored sector. The study is grounded on the understanding that sandy beaches are highly dynamic coastal systems, in which the alternation between erosional and depositional processes directly controls beach width, user safety, and the quality of the recreational experience. An integrated methodological approach was adopted, combining topographic surveys using GNSS RTK, aerial photogrammetry with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), data processing and spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, shoreline change assessment using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), and continuous monitoring of recreational use through video imagery. Recreational use monitoring was conducted between August 2023 and January 2024. Topographic surveys and shoreline analyses were carried out in August 2023, October 2023, and January 2024, while UAV-based photogrammetric surveys were performed in October 2023, January 2024, and April 2024. The study area was delimited to the wet beach zone, which represents the main sector of concentration of recreational activities and nautical sports, covering approximately 6,894.5 m2. The results indicate a intermediate morphodynamic behavior, with a well-defined seasonal alternation between erosional phases, mainly recorded between August and October 2023, when shoreline retreat rates of up to –5.6 m/year were observed, and depositional phases between January and April 2024, characterized by positive shoreline advance rates of up to +10.1 m/year. The estimated physical carrying capacity for the analyzed sector was approximately 689 simultaneous users, based on a reference value of 10 m2 per user, whereas the maximum observed occupancy during the monitoring period was 301 users, remaining within the categories classified as “comfortable” and “very comfortable.” However, localized erosional processes, particularly those associated with the influence of a stormwater drainage outlet, reduced the continuity and functional availability of the beach area in specific sectors, demonstrating that PCC should be interpreted as a dynamic parameter, conditioned by beach morphology rather than solely by visitor demand.