Coastal Vulnerability Assessment using geoindicators: case study of Rio Grande do Sul coastline

Geoindicadores são medidas de processos e fenômenos geológicos que ocorrem perto ou sobre a superfície da Terra e que variam significantemente durante um período de até 100 anos. Nas últimas três décadas, o uso de geoindicadores foi direcionado para avaliações de impactos e riscos geológicos. Seu uso, porém, ainda é pouco difundido e explorado em relação aos demais indicadores ambientais. Este estudo tem por objetivo contribuir à difusão de informação e aplicabilidade dos geoindicadores. Definimos como geoindicador um parâmetro ou aspecto comumente estudado ou monitorado nos ambientes costeiros. Os geoindicadores aqui propostos foram testados com vistas à avaliação da vulnerabilidade física costeira das praias do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Quatro geoindicadores foram definidos e aplicados: altura e estado morfo-ecológico de dunas frontais, posição de linha de costa e concentração de sangradouros. Além destes indicadores de caráter físico, outro de caráter socioambiental foi incluído, qualidade sanitária. Os indicadores foram agregados para gerar um Índice de Vulnerabilidade Física para sete localidades ao longo do litoral costeiro do Rio Grande do Sul. Um mapa cartográfico de linguagem acessível ao público comum e aos tomadores de decisão foi gerado a partir dos indicadores e do Índice.Geoindicators are means adopted for the measurement of geological processes and phenomena that occur at or near the Earth's surface and vary significantly over periods of 100 years or less. These tools have focused on assessing geological impacts and risks over the last three decades. However, the use of geoindicators is not widely known and has not been as greatly exploited as have most environmental indicators. The objective of this study is to contribute to the diffusion of information about and the application of geoindicators. We have defined, in terms of geoindicators, parameters and aspects of coastal environments that are commonly studied or monitored. The geoindicators proposed were designed for assessing coastal physical vulnerability in the case of the coastal beaches of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Four geoindicators were defined and tested: the height and morpho-ecological state of the foredunes, shoreline position, and washout concentrations. An additional sócio-environmental indicator was included, sanitary quality. These indicators were brought together to constitute a Physical Vulnerability Index that represented seven locations along the coastline assessed. In addition, the indicators and Index values were used to generate a cartographic map that could be understood by the public and used by decision makers

Coastal vulnerability assessment using geoindicators:case study of Rio Grande do Sul coastline

Abstract Geoindicators are means adopted for the measurement of geological processes and phenomena that occur at or near the Earth's surface and vary significantly over periods of 100 years or less. These tools have focused on assessing geological impacts and risks over the last three decades. However, the use of geoindicators is not widely known and has not been as greatly exploited as have most environmental indicators. The objective of this study is to contribute to the diffusion of information about and the application of geoindicators. We have defined, in terms of geoindicators, parameters and aspects of coastal environments that are commonly studied or monitored. The geoindicators proposed were designed for assessing coastal physical vulnerability in the case of the coastal beaches of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Four geoindicators were defined and tested: the height and morpho-ecological state of the foredunes, shoreline position, and washout concentrations. An additional sócio-environmental indicator was included, sanitary quality. These indicators were brought together to constitute a Physical Vulnerability Index that represented seven locations along the coastline assessed. In addition, the indicators and Index values were used to generate a cartographic map that could be understood by the public and used by decision makers

Coastal Vulnerability Assessment using geoindicators: case study of Rio Grande do Sul coastline

Abstract Geoindicators are means adopted for the measurement of geological processes and phenomena that occur at or near the Earth's surface and vary significantly over periods of 100 years or less. These tools have focused on assessing geological impacts and risks over the last three decades. However, the use of geoindicators is not widely known and has not been as greatly exploited as have most environmental indicators. The objective of this study is to contribute to the diffusion of information about and the application of geoindicators. We have defined, in terms of geoindicators, parameters and aspects of coastal environments that are commonly studied or monitored. The geoindicators proposed were designed for assessing coastal physical vulnerability in the case of the coastal beaches of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Four geoindicators were defined and tested: the height and morpho-ecological state of the foredunes, shoreline position, and washout concentrations. An additional sócio-environmental indicator was included, sanitary quality. These indicators were brought together to constitute a Physical Vulnerability Index that represented seven locations along the coastline assessed. In addition, the indicators and Index values were used to generate a cartographic map that could be understood by the public and used by decision makers