Use of geotechnology for the precipitation analysis in Cubatão (SP): Correlation with the occurrence of mass movements

Abstract

The spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall is of fundamental importance for the management of natural resources. The presence of water is related to the great majority of the cases of instability of slopes (slopes), having great influence in the deflagration of processes of mass movements. The main objective of this research is to analyze the temporal and spatial variation of precipitation in the region of Cubatão by means of interpolation of historical data of intense precipitation in the region. Rainfall data were collected through the Hydrological Data Bank of the Department of Water and Electric Energy (DAEE) of the State of São Paulo, free of charge. Monthly total precipitation average graphs were plotted as well as spatial distribution maps of the mean annual rainfall. These results were compared with the 1976 event that occurred and was recorded in bibliographies. As a result, it could be observed that the year of 1975 was the year with higher values of monthly averages, reaching almost 650 mm in January, which indicates that in the year before the event of mass movement there was an above average rainfall in the region, and may be a factor considered as a trigger or a potentiator of the occurrence of these geological processes.