Assessment of Vulnerability to Erosion in Amazonian Beaches

Remo Luan Marinho Costa Pereira, Cesar Mösso () and Luci Cajueiro Carneiro Pereira ()
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Remo Luan Marinho Costa Pereira: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering School (Campus Nord), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Cesar Mösso: Laboratori d’Enginyeria Marítima, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering School (Campus Nord), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech, c/Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Luci Cajueiro Carneiro Pereira: Institute of Coastal Studies, Universidade Federal do Pará, Alameda Leandro Ribeiro sn, Aldeia, Braganca-Pará 68600-000, Brazil

Geographies, 2025, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Erosion represents a significant global threat to coastal zones, especially beaches, which are among the most valuable coastal landforms. This study evaluates the vulnerability to coastal erosion along the Brazilian Amazon coast, focusing on eight recreational beaches. The research is based on an assessment of geological, physical, ecological, and anthropogenic indicators. Some of these indicators were proposed in this study to enhance the evaluation of vulnerability in Amazonian beaches. The analysis reveals that most of the beaches studied are highly vulnerable to erosion due to a combination of natural factors and human activities. The barrier–beach ridge, composed of unconsolidated sediments, exhibits the highest vulnerability, while low cliffs present a moderate level of risk. The study highlights that semi-urban beaches with significant infrastructure development are particularly susceptible to erosion, a problem exacerbated by unplanned land use. Conversely, rural beaches, especially those located in protected areas, show lower vulnerability due to reduced human impact and better conservation of natural ecosystems. Furthermore, the study underscores the effects of extreme climatic events, such as prolonged rainfall and high-energy waves, which can intensify erosion risks. The findings suggest that anthropogenic changes, combined with extreme climate events, significantly influence the dynamics of coastal erosion. This research emphasizes the importance of targeted management strategies that address both natural and human-induced vulnerabilities, aiming to enhance coastal resilience and sustainability for Amazonian beaches.

Keywords: vulnerability; natural processes; anthropogenic activities; management; Amazonian beaches (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q15 Q5 Q53 Q54 Q56 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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