Morphological characterization of eighteen lakes of the north and middle coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Caracterização morfológica de dezoito lagoas do litoral norte e médio do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

• Published in: Acta limnológica brasiliensia 2014-04, Vol.26 (2), p.199-199
• Main Authors: Schäfer, Alois Eduard, Marchett, Cassiano Alves, Schuh, Sabrina Maurer, Ahlert, Siclério, Lanzer, Rosane Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Freshwater
• ISSN: 0102-6712; 2179-975X

The present study aimed at a morphological characterization of 18 lakes of the municipalities of Cidreira, Balneario Pinhal and Palmares do Sul, situated in the northern and middle coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The morphometric survey was conducted in the summer of 2011/2012, based on echo sounder coupled with GPS and the application of remote sensing and GIS procedures. The morphometric parameters used for the characterization were: surface area, perimeter, perimeter development, volume, relative fetch, maximum depth, average depth, relative depth, median depth of volume, length and width. Eighteen lakes were described and five of them are presented by aerial photo and bathymetric map. They represent the proposed morphological lake types. The calculation of the coefficient of variation revealed larger amplitudes of parameters related to lake size than to depth. The low relative depths and the exposure to constant northeastern winds reduce the transparency of the lakes. Consequently, they are light limited by suspension of inorganic and organic matter.