The spatiotemporal evolution (1975-2010) of the mobile barchan dune fields in the Jericoacoara National Park, Brazil, derived from Landsat and Quickbird satellite images
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Jeovah de Andrade Meireles, A.; 2de Sá Pereira Filho, N.; 3Gorayeb, A.; 4de Sousa Mendes, J.
1UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ Email: meireles@ufc.br
2UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ Email: narceliofilho@hotmail.com
3UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ Email: adryanegorayeb@yahoo.com.br
4UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO CEARÁ Email: jociclea30@hotmail.com
Abstract
Coastal dunes play an important role in the sediment transport of the coastal zone. The unique morphology of the Jericoacoara National Park in the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará consists of a promontory covered by a mobile dune field consisting of large, horseshoe-shaped mobile barchan dune fields, that migrate from east to west. These dunes are responsible for the bypass and transportation of the sediments essential for the maintenance of the coastline. The present study focused on the morphodynamic evolution of these isolated mobile dunes through the recovery of multitemporal Landsat and Quickbird satellite images from the years between 1975 and 2010. The spatiotemporal analysis of the distribution and morphology of these dunes over this 35-year period revealed significant shifts in their area, perimeter, and movement patterns. It was possible to confirm that the flow of material and energy was linked to a process of continuous migration in the direction of the beach (sediment bypassing sector). The dynamics of the dune migration in the years following 2000, when the national park was established, indicate possible impacts on the morphology of the dunes resulting from the increase in tourism within the area. These changes were most significant between 2001 and 2005, possibly reflecting a greater influx of tourists and thus more intense anthropogenic impacts. The different geoprocessing techniques applied to the mapping of the morphodynamic evolution of the dune field of the Jericoacoara National Park proved to be an essential tool for the production of information that will guarantee the long-term environmental planning of this integral conservation unit.
Keywords
Space-time analysis; Geography and geospatial infor; Mobile barchan dune fields