Geology and Geomorphology of Holocene Coastal Barriers of Brazil

This is the first book to cover Holocene geology and geomorphology of the entire 8,500 kilometers of the Brazilian coast. It is aimed at third and fourth year undergraduates, post-graduate students, scientists and managers. It characterizes the coast in terms of holocene geology, geomorphology, oceanographic conditions and the location of the barrier types. Separate chapters outline the types of barrier in each state, beginning in the south and proceeding to the north. Special emphasis is placed on the stretches of coast where the detailed morphology and stratigraphy of barriers has been previously determined.§To date the Brazilian coastal barriers have been largely ignored by the international community, especially by north American authors and scientists who generally concentrate on barrier islands. However, the Brazilian coastal barriers display a much wider range of types than is generally assumed. The biggest and most spectacular dunefield barriers in the world exist in Brazil although hitherto completely unknown.§This volumes provides a wealth of information on barrier types, evolution and dynamics. It furnishes managers, biologists and botanists with much needed geological and dynamic background of the evolution, functioning and ecosystems of holocene barriers along the entire Brazilian coast.This books presents the first comprehensive overview of the evolution, geology, geomorphology and dynamics of Holocene coastal barriers in Brazil. Following two introductory chapters outlining the coast geology, climate, oceanography, general setting and dynamics, each subsequent chapter deals with the evolution and development of Holocene barriers in each state covering 9,200 kilometers of coastline. The examples cover all tidal types from micro to macro tidal, all wave and wind energies, and virtually every barrier type ranging from barrier islands, spits, strandplains, attached, receded and prograded barriers, climbing, clifftop and falling dunefield barriers and the largest transgressive dunefield barriers in the world. The book has been written by experts in Brazil, and provides a wealth of information previously inaccessible to scientists, students and managers.