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M.L. Leite & J.S.V. Filho2010. Analysis of rainfall in the Vila Velha State Park, State of Parana, Southern Brazil
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Analysis of rainfall in the Vila Velha State Park, State of Parana,
Southern Brazil, in the period between 1954 and 2001
Maysa de Lima Leite 1* & Jorim Sousa das Virgens Filho 2
1 Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Av. Carlos
Cavalcanti, 4748, 84.030-900, Paraná, Brazil
2 Departamento de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa,
Paraná, Brazil
Abstract
The aim of this study was to perform a temporal analysis involving frequency, intensity and
variability of rainfall for the city of Ponta Grossa, between 1954 and 2001. Data of daily rainfall
(mm) were analyzed and obtained from the Meteorological Station, situated in the area of the
State Park of Vila Velha, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. The Park constitutes a Conservation
Unit with a total area of 3122.11 hectares and presents vegetation of open grassland and
scattered clumps of forest, with the focus on the Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia). The
annual average rainfall observed for the series was 1546.2 mm, revealing a growing trend over
the years. The month with the highest average rainfall was January and the lowest average was
observed in August. Summer was the most rainy season, including the highest number of days
with rain. The range of “drizzle” showed the highest frequency in all months.
Keywords: temporal analysis, intensity, variability, rainfall.
1. Introduction
Rainfall is one of the meteorological elements that most influence on environmental conditions
and has a great importance because it is directly related to many sectors of the society, since the
rainfall affects the economy, the environment and the society as a whole (Silva et al., 2007).
The spatial-temporal distribution of rainfall is a very important regional characteristic, both for
society and for the economy. Knowledge of this feature can guide decisions on the measures
necessary to minimize the damage from irregular rainfall (Piccinini, 1993 apud Minuzzi et al.,
2007). According to Nery et al. (2002 apud Nery et al., 2004), information about the number of
days with rainfall are useful both in agricultural planning in a short-term (which agronomic
practices for soil and/or air moisture are conditioning factors), as a long-term conditions
(definitions of regions and times most suitable for the sowing of crops and/or for maintenance
of perennial species). To Assis (1991 apud Ribeiro and Lunardi, 1997), the frequency, i.e. the
number of days within a month or season in which rainfall occurs, perhaps is the most important
aspect in relation to rain for vegetation in general, besides quantity and variability. The
objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency and intensity of rainfall from the
Meteorological Station located in the Vila Velha State Park, near the city of Ponta Grossa, State
of Parana, Southern Brazil, over the period of 1954 to 2001.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 (42) 3220 3126 Fax: +55 (42) 3220-3102
Email address: mleite@uepg.br
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.