RELATIVE SEA LEVEL RISE EFFECTS AT THE MARAMBAIA BARRIER ISLAND AND GUARATIBA MANGROVE: SEPETIBA BAY (SE BRAZIL)

Human activities change coastal ecosystems, but they are also altered by natural causes, such as the relative sea level rise. This work analyzes the influence of changes of the relative sea level at Guaratiba mangrove and Marambaia barrier island, in Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro State (SE, Brazil), based on photo interpretation. The objective of this study is to analyze the morphodynamics of Marambaia coastal sand barrier, estimating the rate of the shoreline change by mapping the vegetation line position, variations of dune extension and overwash processes. The Marambaia barrier island and Guaratiba mangrove are highly vulnerable to sea level rise. The mangrove is suffering pressure from the relative sea level rising and urbanization. The mangrove migration towards the continent is evident through the analyses of aerial images from 1976 to 2005. If the current erosion process continues in the Marambaia barrier island, a disruption in the central area of the sand bank should occur, which will create a new communication between Sepetiba Bay and the ocean. This break will change the present internal circulation of the bay and modify the ecosystems. Also considering the anthropic pressure, if the Marambaia barrier island breaks, the mangrove area will be reduced or disappear. The sea level rise and the sedimentation rate lowering will result in the migration and marine transgression in Marambaia barrier island and Guaratiba mangrove.