Uma abordagem morfodinâmica na caracterização fisica das praias estuarinas da Baia de Paranaguá, sul do Brasil

Abstract

In this study, thirteen estuarine sandy beaches distributed along of Paranagua Bay were characterized regarding its morphology, sedimentary composition, wave regime and morphodynamism. The beaches were characterized by a narrow and steep beachface fronted by a wide, very low-gradient intertidal flat. The strong influence of tidal currents seems to inhibit the intertidal flat formation at some beaches. Sedimentary composition of beachface ranged from very-well sorted fine sand (beaches near to the mouth of the bay) to poor sorted coarser sand at the inner bay, while the intertidal flat ranged from sandy to muddy sediments towards to the inner estuary. Observed waves were small (Hb< 0.25m) and of short period (T < 5s), in general, increasing with tide and decreasing towards the inner bay. Although the application of morphodynamic models has been limited by wave data quality, observed beach profile were similar to described for tide-modified and, especially to tide-dominated beaches.