Abstract
Abstract. Estuaries are unstable coastal environments of transitional character between the continent and the ocean that plays an important role in fauna reproduction. In general, these types of coastal features have suffered several environmental impacts due to inadequate forms of use and occupation, which result in significant modifications in the morphology of river mouths. This work aims to apply geotechnologies to study the morphological changes at the mouth of Aracatimirim River, Ceará, Brazil, contributing with useful information on the monitoring and environmental management of tropical coastal estuaries. The methodology was divided into three stages: recognition of the study area; field activity and data processing and integration. The Aracatimirim River estuary underwent major changes between 1985 and 2013, where it was possible to identify five evolutionary phases into this period. Previously, built by bar, it evolved to an estuary of coastal plain, accompanied by the progression of Torrões beach and agglutination of "barriers spits" to the continent. It is the main navigable river of the area of Itarema municipality. After the development of this work, it was possible to conclude that the forms of use and occupation in the surroundings of the Aracaratimirim River estuary had a wide growth in the last years, which reflects clearly in the estuary morphology, currently classified as an estuary of coastal plain. The morphological changes within the estuary interfere on not only the environmental conditions, but also in the economy and social conditions of the local community.
Highlights
Coastal zones can be defined as transition areas between the continent and the ocean, having significant importance in environmental, economic and sociocultural aspects (FALCÃOQUINTELA, 2008)
After the development of this work, it was possible to conclude that the forms of use and occupation around the Aracaratimirim river estuary had a wide growth in the last 10 years, which clearly reflects the morphology of its mouth
After the development of this work, it was possible to conclude that the forms of use and occupation around the Aracaratimirim estuary had a growth in the last 10 years, which clearly reflects in the estuary mouth’s morphology
Summary
Coastal zones can be defined as transition areas between the continent and the ocean, having significant importance in environmental, economic and sociocultural aspects (FALCÃOQUINTELA, 2008). Coastal and marine processes, intensified by the dynamics of land use and occupation, shape these areas. These zones can be affected in spatial and temporal scales, suffering important transformations that might be irreversible (SUGUIO, 2003). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO (1997) emphasizes that approximately 2/3 of the world’s population lives less than 50 km from the coast, harboring a little more than four billion people. In the Brazilian territory, 26% of the population (50.7 million) live in municipalities of the coastal zone, according to the Geographical Atlas of Coastal and Oceanic Zones of Brazil (2011)
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