Balanço hídrico e classificação climática segundo o método de Thornthwaite & Mather para Iguatu - CE

Abstract

The main characteristics of the semi-arid region of Brazil are high temperature and low air humidity, in addition to reduced rainfall. The climate conditions in this region, as well as the soil, make water resources scarce. In this sense, water planning is crucial to ensure that there is no water deficit. The water balance of a region allows us to obtain knowledge about temperature, rainfall, soil water storage and climatic indexes, due to the precipitation and evapotranspiration of a period. Knowing the water balance and the climate classification is essential for planning various activities, such as agriculture and industry. Historical temperature and precipitation data allow the water balance and climate classification of a region to be carried out. Thus, the objective of this work was using the method of Thornthwaite & Mather (1948, 1955), and data of precipitation and average air temperature grouped in a series of 22 years, obtained through NIM (National Institute of Meteorology), to carry out the water balance and climatic classification for the municipality of Iguatu - CE. According to the results it was found that the average annual temperature is 27.9 ° C, while the average annual precipitation is 826 mm, the rains are concentrated from February to April with the other months of the year being dry with a marked water deficit.