FLUVIAL MORPHOLOGIES IN SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT: THEORETICAL ISSUES APPLIED TO A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Fluvial morphologies related to ephemeral drainage are barely known in Brazilian geomorphological literature, where the researches about the theme has addressed different aspects of fluvial dynamics. In the riacho da Cruz case study - Bahia State semi-arid - the employability of geomorphological terms used in the national and international bibliography to the local scenario were discussed in order to produce knowledge about aspects not explored in the Brazilian semiarid literature yet. The expressions related to fluvial forms identified that were discussed are drainage channel, discontinuity channel, sheetflood zone, headcut, floodout, terminal fan and channel fan. From field studies, particle size distribution (PSD) analysis and theoretical discussions, some expressions from literature were adopted integrally or adapted, in addition to new expressions elaborated. Therefore, were evaluated that the use of terminologies should be done with wariness, in order to adapt them to the researched contexts, and it must be connected to the international geomorphological literature.