Morphological evolution in an induced beach system: Praia Mansa, Mucuripe bay, Fortaleza/CE

Abstract

The insertion of port works tends to change the coastal dynamics of the beach systems where they are installed. Proof of this is the urban coast of Fortaleza, capital of Ceará, Northeast Region of Brazil. The construction of the Port of Fortaleza generated important changes in the configuration of the coastline, resulting from erosive processes. For decades, progradation has been observed in the eastern sector, while in the north-west facade, there is a retreat of the coastline. In the area inside the port – the Mucuripe cove – the sedimentary dynamics, altered by the installation of a rocky extension for the construction of the port, was responsible for the formation of Praia Mansa, an induced beach system and fragile from an ecodynamic point of view. In 2012, the construction of an equipment, the Maritime Passenger Terminal, began on this beach. This article aims to analyze the process of formation of Praia Mansa and its main morphological changes over time, especially after the works of the aforementioned Passenger Terminal. To this end, topographic surveys were carried out in loco, in addition to the analysis of satellite images of the place. The topographic profiles carried out in two years of analysis indicated a loss of more than 100m² of area, while the satellite images – analyzed in longer periods of time than the realization of the profiles – showed erosive phases much higher than those of sedimentary accretion. The results found confirmed environmental prognoses previously realized and that showed the fragility of the area in question.