Influence of Natural and Anthropogenic Processes in the Coastline Evolution at the Doce River Mouth (Espírito Santo, Brazil)

Abstract

Aims and Place: The Doce River is one of the largest rivers of southeastern Brazil, and has been target of strong environmental impact in recent decades due to mining and farming activities. Influenced by lithological factors and human disturbance, the Doce River has brought changes on the vegetation of the deltaic plain and increased the local sediment load transported Methodology: Limnological analysis, textural characteristic of soils and sediments and TOC, TON and TP (ppm) were determined at the Doce River mouth during the dry and rainy seasons between 1993 and 2008. Cluster analysis, analysis of the sediment dynamic and bed topography of the mouth were applied to the results. Results and Conclusion: The river shows accelerated bank erosion, especially during the rainy season. Near the mouth, erosion processes are enhanced by sediment dynamics, obstructing the main channel and modifying the coastal landscape. This research aims to contribute to a better understanding of fluvial geomorphology near the mouth of the Doce River, from nutrients flow analyze and sediment dynamics, without discarding the anthropogenic influence in the region.