Determination of the littoral sensitivity index (LSI) to oil spills along the south-southeast of Santa Catarina state

Abstract

The Littoral Sensitivity Index (LSI) is based on geomorphologic characteristics as the exhibition degree to the energy of the waves and tides, the steepness of the coast and the substratum type, fundamental for the determination of the impact degree and permanence of the spilled oil. Each LSI represents the sensibility of a space of the coast, and it varies of the least sensitive (1) to the most sensitive (10). The sensibility maps consist of contingency plans in case of oil spill, and could impede or reduce the caused impacts to the coastal zone. The present work had for general objective to determine the LSI to the spill of oil for southeast and south area of the State of Santa Catarina in order to integrate the project SAO Letters. For obtaining the necessary characteristics, data originated from the project SAO Letters and “field survey” was used. Later they were organized in GIS, to be classified in agreement with the proposed methodology. The computational tool used was the software ArcMap version 8.3. The resulting LSI maps are articulated in 15 Operational Maps at 1:50.000 scales. In the study area 87 segments were identified, totalizing 819,82 Km of extension. The applied methodology showed to be efficient for visualization and determination of the characteristics that distinguish different LSI.