Journal of Geography and Earth Sciences

Bankfull Hydraulic Geometry Relationships for Rivers and Streams of the Western and Southwest Regions of Paran� State, Brazil
Oscar Vicente Quinonez Fernandez

Abstract
This study presents regional hydraulic geometry relationships for rivers and streams in the western and southwestern regions of the state of Paran�, Brazil. Regional hydraulic geometry relates the area of the river basin to the dimensions of the river channel (width, depth, channel capacity) and the flow measured at bankfull stage by potential functions. Both regions integrate a homogeneous area in the basaltic plateau of the Paran� sedimentary river basin. The climate is humid sub-tropical and the average rainfall is 1,830 mm annually. The nesting of the rivers in the study area does not allow the development of alluvial plains. For this reason, sandy deposits deposited by floods were used as a reference in defining bankfull stages. The data were collected by 46 fluviometric stations and reference sections, whose drainage areas ranged from 0.44 to 17,400 km2. The coefficients of determination (R2) of the equations reached values between 0.911 and 0.966 and were valid for the studied regions and for alluvial stretches in rural areas.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jges.v4n2a4