Características das chuvas e interceptação vegetal no bioma caatinga

Abstract

The mechanism of vegetation interception depends largely on the rainfall characteristics and canopy of the trees. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effects of the rainfall characteristics (precipitation classes (RC)-RC < 15 mm, 15 mm ≤ RC < 30 mm, 30 mm ≤ RC< 60 mm and RC ≥ 60 mm and intensity classes (IC)-1,1 mm h-1 ≤ IC < 5 mm h-1, 5,1 mm h-1 ≤ IC < 25 mm h-1, 25,1 mm h-1 ≤ IC < 50 mm h-1 and IC ≥ 50,1 mm h-1) and the seasonal variations of the interception in an area with regenerating caatinga. The experiment was conducted on an experimental catchment in the municipality of Iguatu, Ceará, during six consecutive years, from 2010 to 2015, with a total of 212 events. Internal precipitation, tree trunk runoff and loss by interception in areas of 10 x 10 m were monitored. The total rainfall was measured with a “Ville de Paris” rain gage, installed in an open area. No seasonal changes were observed (wet season-January through June-and dry season-July through December) among the average percentages of internal precipitation (Pint), tree trunk runoff (Esc) and loss by interception (I), due to the rainfall and vegetation characteristics. The results show that the smallest relative losses by interception were observed in the precipitation classes over 60 mm and, among the most intense events, the average loss percentages by interception are smaller.