Age of mobile transversal dunes between Macau and Jericoacoara: northern coast of northeastern Brazil

Abstract

We aimed to determine the age of the Brazilian northeast coast transversal mobile dunes using as parameter dating in eolianites, winds climate, data interpretation (past and current) and monitoring the aeolian mobile transversal forms movement process. Through dating by method 14C in eolianites and accompanying of dunes movement processes it was possible to establish the mobile transversal dunes age. The results indicated through of the method 14C that the third generation of the dunes corresponding to the eolianites has 1780 ± 80 to 1320 ± 50 years. Considering the material transportation by east wind towards the transversal dunes estimated in 11m/year, the aeolian system has less than 1320 +/- 50 AP. Within this context, the geological evolution model applied proved to be satisfactory to the comprehension of age mobile transversal coastal dunes of the Brazilian northeast.