Geomorfologia e neotectônica no Vale do Apodi-Mossoró RN

Numerous studies have indicated that the Potiguar Basin is affected by Cenozoic tectonics. The reactivation of Cretaceous fault systems affect the post-rift units, witch include Neogene and overlying Quaternary sediments. In this context, the objectives of this thesis are the followings: (1) to characterize the effects of post-rift tectonics in the morphology of Apodi Mossoró-river valley located in the central portion of the Potiguar, (2) to characterize the drainage of the Apodi Mossoró river valley and investigate the behavior of their channels across active faults, and (3) to propose a geologic-geomorphological evolutionary model for the study area. This study used a geological and geomorphological mapping of the central part of the basin, with emphasis on the Quaternary record, luminescence dating of sediments, and geoelectric profiles of the area. The results reveal by maps of structural lineaments and drainage channels of the rivers form valleys that are affected by faults and folds. In Apodi-Mossoró valley, anomalies of channel morphology are associated with the deformation of the post-rift basin. These anomalies show the reactivation of major fault systems in the Potiguar Basin in Cenozoic. On a regional scale, can be seen through the vertical electric profiles that the Cenozoic tectonics is responsible for the elevation of a macro dome NE-SE-trending 70-km long and 50km wide and up to 270 above sea level. In this sector, the vertical electric profiles data show that the contact between the Cretaceous and Neogene rise more than 100m. This Is an important feature of inversion data obtained in this work showed that the deposits that cover the macro dome (Serra do Mel) have ages of 119 ka to 43 ka. In the river valley and surrounding areas Apodi-Mossoró ages vary between 319 ka and 2.7 ka. From these data it was possible to establish the correct geochronological posiconamento paleodepósitos of distinguishing them from the fluvial deposits of the Neogene (Barreiras Formation)

Análise de risco à erosão costeira na região de Tibau do Sul/RN através de mapeamento geoambiental e análise morfodinâmica

The research area is located on the county of Tibau do Sul, in the east coast of Rio Grande do Norte State, about 80km south of the capital Natal. The tourism represents the main income activity and Pipa beach is the most visited beach in the city, annually receives a large influx of domestic and foreign tourists. Some recent studies have reported the occurrence of coastal erosion in this littoral, being the main objective of the research, analyze the existing coastal erosion, through two methodologies, the geoenvironmental mapping and beach morphodynamics. The geoenvironmental mapping was done from oblique aerial photographs and field visits, which sought to carry out first the geomorphological mapping, with the purpose of analyzing features that suggest susceptible areas to erosion, as areas without protection of natural dunes, marine terraces, or sandstones (beach-rocks and ferruginous sandstones), areas with the presence of gullies and stretches where the sea-cliffs were in direct contact with the action of the sea, representing the beginning of the beach profile. In the morphodynamic study sought to carry out the survey of the physical and morphological characteristics, the analysis of sediment grain of the beaches and finally the analysis of the morphodynamic parameters to generate a table of risk to erosion by sector of the beach. The morphodynamic parameters were defined by the methodology proposed by Short (2006), in which considers different patterns of dynamism on beaches with characteristics favorable and unfavorable to erosive profiles. The maps indicated different levels of risk to the segments of the beaches analyzed, suggesting risk to erosion low and low to moderate only in areas north and northwest of the beaches of Madeiro and Curral, and levels of moderate and high risk sectors in the south and southeast of these beaches . The beach of Pipa showed moderate levels of risk and moderate to high at the ends and high risk to erosion in the central portion. The study of the coastal environment, its morphological evolution, and areas with problems of erosion, are of fundamental importance to assist coastal management policies, giving grants for planning activities undertaken in these regions