Abstract:

South American coasts are subject to many different natural hazards. In general terms, the Pacific coast is tectonic, and therefore, earthquakes and tsunamis are likely to occur in this area. The Caribbean coast is constantly subject to trade winds and episodically to hurricanes and tsunami-triggered waves. The Atlantic coasts of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina suffer the action of storm surges coming from the south (southeasterlies). At the same time, the South American coast is particularly exposed to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-triggered effects. These effects are different in different regions. In Colombia the seasonal increase of the mean sea level alters the dynamics of barrier islands. In Peru, ENSOs are responsible for sudden inputs of sediments to the coast; similar processes impact the estuarine complexes of Lagoa dos Patos (southern Brazil) or Paraná-Rio de la Plata floods (Argentina-Uruguay). In northern Brazil, on the other hand, dry conditions induce the migration of dunes landward. In several countries of South America, population is concentrated at or near the coast, and therefore some natural coastal processes increase their impacts. In recent years, erosion effects have been more severe due to the action of humanity. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.