Mass Movements in Wetlands: An Analysis of a Typical Amazon Delta-Estuary Environment

Landslides have caused instability in Amazonian cities located on riverbanks. This study aims to investigate the processes associated with mass movements and their relationship with the behavior of the region's wetlands. The methodological approach begins with a diagnosis of the area. This involves configuring base cartography, characterizing areas affected by mass movements using ground-penetrating radar and identifying areas of critical soil water saturation and collapse potential. Integrated analysis of risk and land use data revealed that collapse-affected areas coincide with zones of high susceptibility to mass movements induced by water action. The interaction between infiltration, water saturation, and human-induced land alteration indicates that these areas function as wetlands with unstable dynamics. The analysis methodology developed for this study aimed to address this scenario by systematically mapping areas with movement potential and high water saturation. Due to the absence of geological and geotechnical data, remote sensing was employed as an alternative, and in-situ ground-penetrating radar (GPR) evaluation was suggested as a means of investigating the causes of a previously observed movement.