Morphodynamic of Futuro Beach, Fortaleza-CE: a synthesis of two years of study

Abstract

The comprehension of the mechanisms of the processes responsible for the morphodynamics of coastal environments and formation and migration of sandy banks is important, considering their roles on beach stabilization and identification of coastal risks. What concerns to beach morphodynamics, different conceptual models have been applied, approaching variations on morphodynamic stages aiming to establish a universal classification for beaches under different tide regimen. This study was conducted at Futuro Beach, Fortaleza-CE. Through seasonal, morphological, hydrodynamic and sedimentological data, was possible to relate the evolution of accretion and erosion cycles to energy variation in the breaker zone. The area was divided in three sectors and classified according to Tide Relative Parameter (TRP), model of morphodynamic stages characterized by mesotidal environments. The first two sectors presented coarse and medium grain sizes, and were classified as intermediate morphodynamic stage. Sector 02 (P03) has shown the highest indexes for beach mobility (σYb=34,65m). The variations of sedimentary package in the first two sectors are more expressive at the medium and lower intertidal zone. At sector 03, characterized by fine sediments, the major stage was ultradissipative.