Patterns of sediment dispersion coastwise the State of Bahia Brazil

Using the average directions of the main wave-fronts which approach the coa st of Bahia State - coinciding with that of the main wind occurring in the area - and of their periods, we define a wave climate model based on the co nstruction of refraction diagrams. The resulting model of sediment transpor t was able to reproduce, in a general way, the sediment dispersion patterns furnished by geomorphic indicators of the littoral drift. These dispersion patterns control the generation of different types of sediment accumulatio ns and of coastal stretches under erosion. We demonstrate that the presence of the Abrolhos and Corumbau Point coral reefs is an important factor cont rolling the sediment dispersion patterns, since them act as a large protect ion against the waves action.