THE INFLUENCE OF MUD ON THE INNER SHELF, SHOREFACE, BEACH AND SURF ZONE MORPHODYNAMICS - CASSINO, SOUTHERN BRAZIL

摘要

The inner shelf, shorefacek and beach at Cassino, located in the southernmost sector of the Brazilian coastline, are characterized by marked differences in grain size and sediment composition compared to adjacent areas This lateral heterogeneity in sediment properties controls the geomorphology of the inner continental shelf and shoreface, and influences the shoreline accretion rate and beach moiphodynamic behavior along a 25 Km stretch of coast Short-term effects are associated with episodic events of mud deposition on the beach during heavy storms that often result in strong gradients in hydrodynamic processes These gradients in turn influence the morphodynamic behaviors on the sectors affected by the mud deposits and can create coastal hazards relating to beach usage These findings are almost certainly applicable in other regions where significant sediment heterogeneity exists.