Geomorphometric Techniques for the Identification of Relief Patterns: Application in Curitiba and Cerro Azul Maps, State of Paraná

Abstract

The representation of the morphology of relief is one of the aspects that constitute the geomorphological cartography (together with representation of processes, genesis and the materials constitute the relief. By using such a resource, the objective of this work is to employ geomorphometric techniques in order to identify relief shape patterns in a scale of 1:100,000, in the First Paraná Plateau, in a region that comprises the Curitiba and Cerro Azul maps. In this sense, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was generated, which gave four topographic features: slope, Topographic Position Index (TPI), altimetric range, and slope average. Slope was calculated using a 3x3 mobile window, and the other features were calculated from circular radii, whose dimension was obtained by means of the modal length of the slopes, varying according to the characteristics of the morphoscultural subunits present in the area. The features were discretized according to deterministic parameters with help from a field campaign that identified the relief patterns. Declivity and TPI were combined by means of map algebra, with identification of river plains. The altimetric range and the declivity average were combined for identify low hills, hillocks, undulated hills, greatly undulated hills, and steep hills. In addition to being associated with geological aspects, these relief patterns were morphometrically characterized, allowing for the discussion on genesis. As for the technique, it showed to be applicable for the identification of relief patterns, generating results which are in accordance with field observations, in addition to making advances regarding optimization and the process of limiting relief patterns as compared to traditional techniques.