AVALIAÇÃO DAS CONSEQUÊNCIAS DO GALGAMENTO COSTEIRO DE 10/11 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2013 NA FRENTE URBANA DO CONCE-LHO DE SANTA CRUZ, ILHA DA MADEIRA

Abstract

The expansion and consolidation of urban areas along the coast lead to the exposure of a large number of anthropic elements to sea storm events. It is with the aim of identifying and classifying the consequences of coastal overtopping that we analyse the recent storm surge of 10/11 December of 2013 which affected the urban coastal fringe of the city of Santa Cruz, on the south coast of Madeira Island. Therefore, the atmospheric conditions of wind intensity and atmospheric pressure are analysed and is characterised the direction of the waves and their maximum height, as well as the tide variation. After the oceanographic and meteorological characterization, it´s identified and evaluated the structural damage on the coastal zone and classified the functional consequences on the port structures affected by overtopping. The quantitative analysis of atmospheric and oceanographic data supports that this overtopping is a green water type resulting from an extratropical storm arising from the rapid reduction of atmospheric pressure and an average wind velocity of 30 km/h, affecting approximately 1600 meters of the coastal area of Santa Cruz. The qualitative analysis of the consequences shows that the port structures suffered severe to catastrophic consequences and dysfunction of their normal activities. The most affected areas are at the extremes of the urban front, registering reduced to insignificant consequences, in the intermediate area. Thus, it shows areas of greatest exposure, and areas that had presented seriously to severe damages, which can be highlighted in future episodes.