LiDAR MAPPING IN THE COASTAL CLIFFS OF EAST CEARENSE (NORTHEAST BRAZIL)

LiDAR mapping in the coastal cliffs of East Ceará (Northeast Brazil)

Abstract

Coastal cliffs represent about 80% of the world's coastline and are classified according to marine influence on their basis into two categories: active and inactive. In the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil, the cliffs are located in greater proportion on the east coast. Thus, the objective of the study was to map and quantify the active and inactive cliffs of the east coast of Ceará, focusing on the top and escarptic lithology, geology and geomorphology, through high resolution images of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and orthophotos. The study results show that 40% of the east coast of Ceará is composed of active and /or paleocliffs, that is, 73.83 km of coastal cliffs, totaling 36.7 km of active cliffs and 39.64 km of paleocliffs. Featuring features such as well-developed gullies in the two cliff classifications, identification of a remounting erosion and stepped surface on a beach with active cliffs, related to the region's subaerial and neotectonic erosion.