A PROPOSAL FOR A MESOSCALE COMPARTMENTATION OF THE BRAZILIAN NORTHEAST COAST

Proposals for coastal compartmentation of Brazilian coast treated, since coastal studies systematization in Brazil, the northeastern coast as a large homogeneous region, from a physical-geographical point of view. Features such as orientation of the coastline, climate and oceanographic processes give to these two areas a contrasting landscape framework, which led to investigation and proposition of a new compartmentation to the northeast coast, made by dismembering the northern portion of the northeastern coast from eastern portion, bringing, to Northeast Region, the existence of two major coastal regions called Semiarid Brazilian Coast and Reefs Coast. Based on latest data it's presented a characterization and compartmentation for these two major regions, with the coastline geometry as criterion (concavity or convexity) guiding the delimitation of compartments, in view that this variable directly affects the climate and oceanographic elements on two northeastern coasts.