Assessment of potential surface degradation resulting from erosion processes in environmentally protected area

Abstract

Erosion processes occur in several locations, causing impacts on the environment. This article analyzes the soil erodibility potential of the conservation unit of Timbaúbas municipal natural reserve, located in Juazeiro do Norte, in the southern mesoregion of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. It also addresses geotechnical characterization tests and field tests on erosion. In the field tests on erosion, huge volumes of soil loss were found caused by the action of rainfall and simulated surface flows. The results of the geotechical investigaton revealed silty sand soil, low values resistance parameters, has high erosion potential. The reduced rate of soil vegetation cover associated with the mechanical characteristics of the aggregate increases susceptibility to erosion processes, also intensified by anthropic intervention and construction of buildings on the site, without proper action to discipline the runoff. This work enables us to conclude that natural factors together with unsuifigure anthropic factors have been the causes of erosion of the conservation unit in question.