Análise geoambiental da plataforma continental Rasa Equatorial, por meio de sensoriamento remoto e dados sedimentológicos: parrachos de Rio do Fogo-RN, Brasil

In the shallow continental shelf in Northeastern Rio Grande do Norte - Brazil, important underwater geomorphological features can be found 6km from the coastline. They are coral reefs, locally known as “parrachos”. The present study aims to characterize and analyze the geomorphological feature as well as the ones of the benthic surface, and the distribution of biogenic sediments found in parrachos at Rio do Fogo and associated shallow platforms, by using remote sensing products and in situ data collections. This was made possible due to sedimentological, bathymetric and geomorphological maps elaborated from composite bands of images from the satellite sensors ETM+/Landsat-7, OLI/Landsat-8, MS/GeoEye and PAN/WordView-1, and analysis of bottom sediments samples. These maps were analyzed, integrally interpreted and validated in fieldwork, thus permitting the generation of a new geomorphological zoning of the shallow shelf in study and a geoenvironmental map of the Parrachos in Rio do Fogo. The images used were subject to Digital Image Processing techniques. All obtained data and information were stored in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and can become available to the scientific community. This shallow platform has a carbonate bottom composed mostly by algae. Collected and analyzed sediment samples can be classified as biogenic carbonatic sands, as they are composed 75% by calcareous algae, according to the found samples. The most abundant classes are green algae, red algae, nonbiogenic sediments (mineral grains), ancient algae and molluscs. At the parrachos the following was mapped: Barreta Channel, intertidal reefs, submerged reefs, the spur and grooves, the pools, the sandy bank, the bank of algae, sea grass, submerged roads and Rio do Fogo Channel. This work presents new information about geomorphology and evolution in the study area, and will be guiding future decision making in the handling and environmental management of the region