Definição e caracterização das unidades de paisagem das Bacias Hidrográficas do Paraná III (Brasil/Paraguai)

Abstract

Studies involving the identification and characterization of landscape units have been performed with good applicability in geographical sciences, particularly as tools for environmental management. These studies, combined with geotechnology, allow its use in several applications, such as the use of radar data SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) obtained from the Remote Sensing and used in large scale topographic studies. These tools, typically used techniques based on GIS (Geographic Information System), GPS (Global Positioning System), Geoprocessing and Digital Cartography, have provided significant contributions to the studies of monitoring objects and phenomena of the earth's surface and present themselves as important tools for collecting, processing and analysis of georeferenced data. In this sense, the present work, developed with contributions from geotechnologies, aimed to the definition and characterization of landscape units (morfoescultural units and subunits) from the basin of watershed Paraná III (Brazil / Paraguay), located on the border of Brazil with Paraguay. From the basic (geological and pedological) and themes maps (slope, hypsometry, vertical bend relief and shaded relief), the map of the modeled units was made, differentiated due to topographical similarities, shapes and steepness of the slopes and roughness of the terrain. One used data from the SRTM mission for the preparation of thematic maps. These data were refined from the original resolution of 3 arc-seconds (~ 90m) to 1 arc second (~ 30m) and are available by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) through TOPODATA project. From the SRTM image, the digital elevation model (DEM) was created, allowing, in this way, to obtain three-dimensional information of the study area (latitude, longitude and altitude), as well as the map of slope, hypsometric, and vertical curvature and shading relief, essential for the delimitation of morfoescultural units and subunits. Based on the taxonomic classification of the relief proposed by Ross (1992), addressed to the third taxon, one identified eight units and three subunits in the basins of Paraná III (Brazil / Paraguay). Four units and three subunits are in Brazilian territory: Subunit of Toledo (1.1.1a), Subunit Santa Tereza do Oeste (1.1.1B), Subunit Nova Santa Rosa (1.1.1C), the San Francisco Unit (1.1.2 ), Unit of Foz do Iguaçu (1.1.3), Unit Marechal Cândido Rondon (1.1.4) and Unit Guaíra (1.1.5). The other four morfoescultural units are located in Paraguayan territory: Unit Santa Fé Del Paraná (1.2.1), Unit of Nueva Esperanza (1.2.2), Unit Corpus Christi (1.2.3) and Unit Salto Del Guairá ( 1.1.4). The case study conducted in the basin of watersheds Paraná III (Brazil / Paraguay) shows that the geotechnologies characterize themselves as indispensable tools in the preparation process of thematic maps, as they provide the processing and analysis of georeferenced data quickly and efficiently, enabling, thus, a better understanding of the landscape, which can bring benefits to both the environmental and territorial planning, as well as for future studies on scales with greater level of detail