Resumo:
The current and growing occupation of coastal environments, whether for the expansion and
diversification of industrial areas, agriculture, or the growth of beach tourism, and its use
without proper criteria, results in impacts and alterations that may lead to the degradation of
the landscape and ecosystems, ultimately rendering the economic activities in these areas
unfeasible. This, combined with the intense dynamics of the processes occurring in this
environment—such as morphodynamics, sea level variations, erosion, and sediment
transport—makes the coastal zone a highly complex area, with harmonious management
being one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Considering the ability to utilize
geological and oceanographic knowledge to diagnose environmental, topographical, eustatic,
and geomorphological conditions, contributing to the identification of areas for human
activities, preservation zones, and the mapping of geological hazard zones, this study aims to
gain a deeper understanding of the main processes and conditions influencing the coastal
morphodynamic evolution of Timor-Leste and identify the geological hazards present in this
environment. For this purpose, an extensive literature review was conducted, utilizing
doctoral theses, scientific articles, and books on topics ranging from regional geology and the
formation of Timor Island, structural models, and tectonic evolution, to the concepts of
morphodynamics and coastal evolution, geomorphological mapping and its various scales of
work, geological hazards, and the region’s climate. Subsequently, a geomorphological
mapping was carried out using GIS (Geographic Information Systems), employing QGIS 3.40
software at a 1:12,500 scale, covering the geomorphological units and subunits of the study
area. Free satellite images were obtained from PlanetScope, with a spatial resolution of 3
meters per pixel, and free radar images from the ALOS PALSAR (Advanced Land Observing
Satellite) remote sensor with a spatial resolution of 12.5 meters. The study area includes the
coastal zones of the districts of Ainaro, Ambeno, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Díli (the
capital), Lautém, Liquiçá, Manatuto, Manufahi, and Viqueque. Two main geomorphological
units were identified: Coastal Plain and Mountains. A 10-day field survey was also conducted
in April 2023 to collect sediment samples and describe sediment characteristics, as well as to
verify the scale of work adopted in the geomorphological mapping. Finally, based on the
studies and considering the morphodynamic aspects, the coastal region of Timor-Leste was
divided into the northern and southern coasts, or, respectively, the Tectonic Coast¹ and
Continental Shelf Reef Systems².
