Difference between revisions of "Aiuaba Experimental Basin, Brazil"
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== Vegetation/Land use == | == Vegetation/Land use == | ||
+ | The 12 km2 watershed has been integrally preserved since 1978. It is naturally covered by the Caatinga, a tropical xerophytic deciduous broadleaf vegetation, consisting of a dense mixture of trees, bushes and cacti. | ||
== Context of investigation == | == Context of investigation == |
Revision as of 12:27, 5 February 2013
Location
The Aiuaba experimental basin is located in the municipality of Aiuaba, State of Ceará, Northeast of Brazil (watershed’s outlet 6°42’S; 40°17’W). It is located inside the Brazilian ‘drought polygon’, the tropical semiarid area of the country, with high inter-annual and intra-annual precipitation variability, average precipitation of 650 mm.yr-1, class A pan evaporation of 2,550 mm.yr-1, and monthly average temperatures ranging from 24°C to 28°C.
Catchment size
The Aiuaba catchment has an area of 12 km2.
Climate
Tropical semiarid area of the country, with high inter-annual and intra-annual precipitation variability, average precipitation of 650 mm.yr-1, class A pan evaporation of 2,550 mm.yr-1, and monthly average temperatures ranging from 24°C to 28°C. According to the Köppen classification system, its climate is ‘Bs’. In the basin 78% of the rainfall corresponds to real evapotranspiration, 13% to runoff and 9% to percolation.
Geology
The geology of the southern side of the watershed (upstream) is characterised by the crystalline complex, consisting of Granite, Migmatitic Gneiss and Banded Gneiss with fascis of Mica Schist (Mamede 2008). On the northern side (downstream) the Santarém meta-sedimentary formation is found. The basin soils - usually shallow with rock fragments - are mainly the Planosol and the red-yellow Podsol (Creutzfeldt 2006).
Topography
Vegetation/Land use
The 12 km2 watershed has been integrally preserved since 1978. It is naturally covered by the Caatinga, a tropical xerophytic deciduous broadleaf vegetation, consisting of a dense mixture of trees, bushes and cacti.