coastal vulnerability

sea levels

International journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

The Northeast Brazil is physically and socioeconomically vulnerable to accelerated sealevel rise, due to its low topography and its high ecological and touristic value. The main threats in ApodiMossoro estuary that could be connected with sealevel rise and climate change are the flooding of coastal areas, erosion of sandy beaches and the destruction of harbor constructions and natural coastal hazards. Assessment of the potential land loss by inundation has been based on empirical approaches using a minimum inundation level of 1m and a maximum inundation level of 10m. The socioeconomic impacts have been based on two possible alternative futures: first a worst situation measured by the economic condition in the maximum inundation level ; and second a best situation measured by combining the sustainability on first scenario with the minimum inundation level. Inundation analysis, based on GIS and a modelling approach to erosion, has identified on 22 locations and the socioeconomic sectors that are most at risk to accelerated sealevel rise, climate change and hazards. Results indicate that 15.74% (216.10km 2) and 26.43 % (362.81km 2) of the area will be lost by flooding at minimum

Coastal vulnerability, adaptation and risk assessment due to environmental change in Apodi-Mossoro estuary, Northeast Brazil.