Revista do Departamento de Geografia da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade de São Paulo - Brasil ISSN 2236-2878 DOI: 10.11606
Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas
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Impacts of the impoundment of Paraibuna and Paraitinga rivers to the city of Paraibuna-SP, Brazil
Hydropower projects are the most commonly used method for generating electricity in Brazil, but they also carry significant destructive potential for the territories where they are implemented, especially when the involved planning fails to consider the rational utilization of resources and the needs of the affected populations. The territory of Paraibuna (SP) was partially inundated due to the damming of the Paraibuna and Paraitinga rivers, which are the sources of the Paraíba do Sul River. This research aims to highlight the main transformations in the urban and rural land use that occurred in this São Paulo municipality, and were caused by the dam constructed within its territory between 1964 and 1977. For this purpose, three types of impacts were analyzed: demographic, geo-economic, and socio-spatial, in light of the concept of the technical-scientific-informational environment, contextualizing these changes on regional, national, and global scales. The analysis of data and bibliographic references allowed identifying the occurrence of the forced displacement of thousands of people, destruction of homes and farms, disruption of the existing economic foundation, restructuring of the job market, as well as the rapid and unplanned growth of the city.
Technical-scientific-informational environment
Copyright (c) 2025 Matheus de Souza Pinto Oliveira, Cláudia Maria de Almeida, Diego Bogado Tomasiello https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Comparison between laser diffraction and pipette methods for grain size analysis of fluvial sediments from the Amazon Basin
Grain size analysis in river systems is important for analyzing the processes of erosion and deposition of flood plains and river islands, as well as contributing to paleohydrological and paleoclimatic studies. At present, sedimentation and laser diffraction methods are used to determine the grain size of soils and sediments. Both methods have limitations, especially when dealing with fine sediments, where differences in the sphericity and shape of the particles can influence the results. The aim of this study was to compare the results of particle size analysis using different methods on sediment samples collected in river environments located in the Amazon basin. Eleven sediment samples were evaluated in seven sampling sessions during the low water period in an anabranching stretch of the middle Negro River (Mariuá Archipelago). The samples were taken from different fluvial units (islands, floodplains, and sandbars). The results indicate a good correlation between the methods, with a high Pearson's linear correlation coefficient, low variance and few differences between the mean grain size values, as well as low values for mean error and root mean square error. The coefficient of determination was moderate, particularly on the islands of the Mariuá archipelago. The greatest errors occurred in fine sediments, where laser diffraction proved to overestimate the silt fraction and underestimate the clay fraction, probably due to the low sphericity of the particles. The textural analysis showed discrepancies in the grain size conventions, indicating that the choice of method can influence interpretations in specific river environments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Matheus Silveira de Queiroz, Rogério Ribeiro Marinho, Antonio Fábio Sabbá Guimarães Vieira , Francisco Weliton Rocha Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis of the vulnerability to groundwater contamination at a sanitary landfill in the Semiarid Region
Due to the increasing demand for water across various sectors of our society, groundwater has become an essential alternative to meet the needs of different human activities. However, a range of practices can lead to the pollution of this crucial water source. Consequently, numerous studies and methods have been developed on the topic of aquifer contamination vulnerability. This research applied the GOD and DRASTIC methods to assess groundwater susceptibility to contamination in the area of a landfill located in the semi-arid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. The studied region showed a vulnerability index ranging from low to high, a result mainly attributed to the type of local hydrogeological formation and the depth at which the groundwater is located.
Copyright (c) 2024 Julianna Ferreira dos Santos Silva, Laercio Leal dos Santos, Pablo Rafael Ferreira Ramos , Veruschka Escarião Dessoles Monteiro, Márcio Camargo de Melo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Bibliometric mapping and systematic review of nighttime light remote sensing data applications
Nighttime lights imagery collected by remote sensing reflects socioeconomic activities and environmental changes within geographic areas. These lights are also used as proxies to estimate and analyze some aspects of these activities, such as Gross Domestc Product, population density, urban patterns and processes, and greenhouse gas emissions. The availability of imagery from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) since the 1990s, combined with advancements in higher-resolution sensors, has greatly improved the use of nighttime lights as a valuable data source for scientific researchs. In this regard, this paper present a systematic review on nighttime light imagery applications. To achieve this end, bibliometric mapping was used as methodological procedure and offered an overview of this field of research, helped to assess emerging trends, as well as to identify key authors. As a result, we found that the most cited author was Dobson et al. (2000), while Christopher Elvidge's accentuated contributions put him on the top references on this field of research. For its part, the journal "Remote Sensing" has published the highest number of articles on nighttime lights imagery. Moreover, China ranks first in the number of publications and citations, as well as in the concentration of highly productive and frequently cited authors. In addition, the applications of the studies analyzed can be broadly classified into four main categories: urban, socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic applications. In summary, this paper contributes by systematically organizing the key approaches and trends in the use of nighttime lights, identifying influential studies and uncovering research gaps that can inform future investigations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Filipe Dias, Fernando Kawakubo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Coffee-producing communities and touristic development of Caparaó Capixaba
Brazilian coffee farming, with its social, economic, historical and cultural relevance, has an intense impact on the country's food culture. The reframing of production systems influences the recognition of high-quality production regions, promoting patrimonialization and touristification, which shapes coffee territories. The study focuses on the Caparaó Capixaba region, marked by family farming and the recent registration of the Coffee Geographical Indication. As a porpuse, the research analyzes small coffee farmers protagonism in the Caparaó Capixaba region in the tourism development. This study uses a qualitative, exploratory, and ethnographic approach, which is divided into three main stages: bibliographic, field and interviews. The results highlight the sociability relationships associated with coffee, which highlight the sense of place through hospitality and commensality, contributing to tourist attractiveness. Furthermore, associative and institutional movements around local development have been structuring tourist routes that increase visibility and protagonism to the coffee and its producers with support of natural and cultural local attractions. This research also elucidated the involvement of the region's communities with the tourist activity from experiences that relate territory, rural experience, regional gastronomy, environmental preservation, and coffee culture.
Copyright (c) 2024 Beatriz Carvalho Tavares, Marcello de Barros Tomé Machado, Vander Valduga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Environmental influence on arboviruses emerging and reemerging infectious
This research addresses the relationship between environmental variables and the incidence of dengue, zika, chikungunya, diseases transmitted by arboviruses which are considered emerging and reemerging diseases. We analyzed changes in land use and land cover, the occurrence of fire outbreaks, and socioeconomic conditions and related them to the incidence of diseases between 2009 and 2019 in 70 cities in the south of the State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Mixed linear generalized models, multiple partial regression, and redundancy analysis tested the hypothesis of environmental influence on the incidence of diseases to assess environmental and health relationships. We identified a positive relationship between land use and land cover, fire outbreaks, socioeconomic conditions, and climate with the incidence of dengue, zika, and chikungunya. The most influential variable to explain the incidence is climate. Temperatures between 20.9 ºC and 28 ºC are conducive to the development of the vector. The incidence is aggravated in cities with larger urban areas and low quality of life.
Copyright (c) 2024 Elfany Reis do Nascimento Lopes, Felipe Micali Nuvoloni, Gioncarlos Moreno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Natural disaster risk management in Santa Catarina
Natural disasters cause deaths, damage, and significant losses to Brazilian cities. Santa Catarina, located in southern Brazil, a region geographically prone to climate variability, frequently suffers from meteorological, climatological, geological, and hydrological disasters. Between 1993 and 2023, extreme events displaced or left homeless over 1 million residents of Santa Catarina, with flash floods, heavy rains, and flooding being responsible for most cases. The aim of this study was to analyze the main risks of these three occurrences, which have been intensified by global warming, to which the state of Santa Catarina is exposed, and to identify their respective levels of probability and impact. The methodology was divided into risk identification, risk classification, quantitative risk analysis, risk response planning, and risk monitoring and mitigation. The study analyzes the three main phenomena (heavy rains, flash floods, and flooding) to propose a risk management method that can contribute to the implementation of public policies to mitigate impacts and increase the resilience of affected communities. The research shows that flash floods are the highest-impact risks and therefore must be prioritized in public management, as the trend is for these phenomena to occur more frequently and with greater intensity over time due to the effects of climate change.
Copyright (c) 2024 Bianca Bertoli, Cássio Aurélio Suski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Physical-geographic diversity in the semi-arid northeastern region
The Brazilian semiarid region is a region with highly diverse landscapes that, due to tectonic controls associated with the action of past climates, gave rise to a complex mosaic of geomorphological forms, making this region one of the most heterogeneous, from a physical-natural point of view, within the Brazilian territory. Understanding and classifying landscape diversity, especially in drylands, is necessary for more effective territorial management and planning. From this perspective, this work aims to identify and understand the landscape units in the Bastiões River Basin (BHRB), in the south of the state of Ceará. This area is inserted in the context of the Chapada do Araripe and the Depressão Sertaneja, therefore located in an area of ​​geological and geomorphological transition, a fact that is reflected in the identified units. In this work, Landscape Units are understood as areas with characteristic relief patterns, differentiated based on their homogeneous physiographic and morphological configuration. Twelve landscape units were identified, some associated with the crystalline basement and others with sedimentary deposits. Among the units inserted in the crystalline geology, the dissected surface in ridges stands out, located in the central area of ​​the basin, and composed of an igneous lithology associated with the Campos Sales-Assaré Pluton. In the sedimentary substrate, the structural summit and the convex top stand out, supported by the fluvial sandstones of the Exu Formation. These units reflect the heterogeneity of the basin and the action of lithostructural, geomorphological and climatic controls on the morphology and dynamics of the landscape, notably distinct in the areas of crystalline and sedimentary basement.
Copyright (c) 2024 Vanessa Martins Lopes, Osvaldo Girão, Jonas Otaviano Praça de Souza https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Geoheritage in the environmental permits in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
In the same year that Rio Grande do Sul became the Brazilian state with the largest number of geoparks recognized by UNESCO, regulation was published to include the issue in environmental permits at state level. Environmental impact assessment is a support mechanism for decision-making on major construction projects aimed at avoiding significant impacts on the health and safety of communities or compromising the balance of environmental systems. Following the current legislation and aiming to promote geoconservation within environmental management in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the State Environmental Protection Foundation Henrique Luis Roessler (FEPAM) published the Technical Guideline no. 12/2023 establishes procedures for identifying and assessing geosites and geodiversity sites. This article aims to introduce the instrument that FEPAM has adopted in the environmental permits for activities that have the potential to impact or pollute the environment. The technical guideline seeks to mitigate conflicts between economic activities and the geoheritage. Key challenges and advancements of the guideline include: i) proposing a methodology for inventorying and evaluating sites of relevance; ii) inclusion of the issue in the routine environmental impact assessment within the state environmental permits system; and iii) fostering inter-institutional dialogue to share the highlighting areas of geoconservation interest during environmental permits system. Therefore, this initiative is pioneering in explicitly incorporating this issue in the analysis of public organization, establishing mechanisms to safeguard of regional geoheritage.
Copyright (c) 2024 Tanice Cristina Kormann, Claudia Bos Wolff , Jaqueline Dickel Bilhar , Rafael Fernandes e Silva , Glaucus Vinicius Biasetto Ribeiro , Cleber Arruda Spolavori, Luciana Regina Petry Anele, Rafael Midugno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Microreliefs: forms and pedogeomorphological processes with emphasis on gilgais in semi-arid environment
Microreliefs are present in several terrestrial ecosystems, including on other planets, such as Mars. These can be indicators of environments with a greater presence of humidity (such as in semi-arid regions), they can be indicators of the presence of expansive clays (2:1), bioturbation or the occurrence of permafrost (in periglacial environments). In the national literature there is a large gap regarding the gilgal microreliefs of the Brazilian semi-arid region. The objective of this study was to analyze the genesis, morphology and features associated with microreliefs, in different terrestrial environments, with an emphasis on gilgais in semi-arid environments based on a bibliographic review study. In areas with microreliefs, soil disturbance occurs in a widespread manner, being associated with freezing, bioturbation, or clay disturbance. In this way, the opening of preferential paths for water percolation (through cracks or channels) is remarkable. In semi-arid tropical environments, the primordial process for the genesis of gilgais is associated with the presence of expansive clays with high activity and accumulation models with a greater occurrence of wetting and drying cycles. Landscapes with microreliefs have in common a complexity of pedological and geomorphological processes, which in order to better discover interscalar relationships, from macro to micro and vice-versa.
Copyright (c) 2024 Damião Isaac de Lira, Davi do Vale Lopes, Antônio Rodrigues Ximenes Neto, Abner Monteiro Nunes Cordeiro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Bodoquena-Pantanal Geopark Project, Mato Grosso do Sul:the implementation proposal and its rejection
The creation of the “Bodoquena-Pantanal Geopark” - GBP, located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, was discussed between 2006 and 2010, with subsequent submission of the proposal to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) currently UNESCO Global Geoparks, with the aim of making it a member of this network. The work carried out indicated a geologically important territory, but it was not enough to form the UNESCO Global Geoparks, receiving rejection in 2011. So, it is intended, by means of a critical analysis of the historical process that resulted in denial of UNESCO Global Geoparks, through the interpretation of documentation of the proposal, considering especially the charter of points recommendations reply to UNESCO Global Geoparks and experience of Arouca Geopark, Portugal. While acknowledging the capability land for a future Geopark, a recommendation among UNESCO Global Geoparks other shares how collect an area of the proposal of the Geopark, stock administrative structure and GBP disclosure and that communities can participate in the Geopark movement. It is hoped that this information will allow an understanding of the historical process of the GBP project and why it was not recognized as a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks and so contribute to what the process and hum facilities Global Geopark, within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization criteria, be better understood.
Copyright (c) 2024 Maria Margareth Escobar Ribas Lima, Ademir Kleber Morbeck de Oliveira, Prof. Dr. Gilberto Luiz Alves https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The importance of relief and agricultural management in pedogenetic transformations: study of a pedological system in northern Paraná – South Brazil
Pedogenetic transformations are controlled by various factors, among the most prominent being the relief, which determines the direction and speed of water flows and interferes in the formation and distribution of soils in the landscape. However, in cultivated soils, the type of land use and management adopted also corroborate pedogenetic transformations, altering the distribution of matter and energy along a slope. The aim of this paper is to analyze pedogenetic transformations and their relationship with the relief and sugarcane management, based on the study of a toposequence of sandstone-derived soils located in Guaraci-PR. The soils survey was made by toposequences, identifying the vertical and lateral transitions of the horizons by means of auger borings and the opening of trenches. Samples were taken at the selected points to determine the physical and hydric parameters of the soils. The results indicated a toposequence with a complex pedological system, consisting of Latosol - Argisol – Litholic Neosol - Argisol – Quartzarenic Neosol. The increase in slope favored the development of surface runoff and the installation of subsurface lateral flows, which controlled the e-iluvial processes and acted in the genesis of Litholic Neosols, Argisols and Quartzarenic Neosols. Additionally, agricultural management has led to the compaction of the subsurface soil horizon, contributing to changes in the intensity and direction of water flows, drivers of pedogenetic transformation processes.
Copyright (c) 2024 Francieli Sant'ana Marcatto, Hélio Silveira, Gustavo Henrique Andrade da Cruz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The spatiality of the street: the case of the Sul de Minas LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade in Alfenas
The street allows different trajectories to intersection in the course of everyday life. Now when individuals and collectives occupy the streets as a form of celebration and claims, the spatiality of the aspect breaks with the ordinary and the programmed. The street becomes the platform and instrument of political action. In this sense, this article discusses the use of the street through the holding of the Sul de Minas LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade, in Alfenas, located in the south/southwest portion of Minas Gerais. The working hypothesis is that the appropriation of the street by the parade brings to light the contradiction between use value and exchange value, because even based on political-economic relations, it creates the conditions for the possibility of an inventive appropriation based on expressions of gender and sexuality rejected from the high economic circuit. As the parades function, the social ritual is established through its constituent elements: the choice of the gathering place, the route of the event and the place of dispersion. For this purpose, the article is based on a Lefebvrevian perspective, where humanity is a product and producer of its own work, the city. The results indicate that the use of the street by the parade requalifies the urban, as it is approached by the community through their bodies and symbols in favor of a set of material claims and dignified living conditions.
Copyright (c) 2025 José Luiz Alves Neto, Marta Gouveia de Oliveira Rovai, Sandra de Castro de Azevedo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Geomorphological mapping from a global perspective: a bibliometric reconstruction of scientific publications (1990–2020)
Bibliometric research is currently a valuable means of investigation. Its use to evaluate research on geomorphological mapping can indicate the characteristics and paths followed by this theme. In this sense, the present study aims to analyze, over time, the scientific publications indexed in the Scopus database that address methodologies related to geomorphological mapping in the last three decades (1990-2020), highlighting the different applications and importance of the theme. The Scopus platform was used for data collection, applying search strategies that included synonyms of the term "geomorphological mapping" combined by the Boolean operator OR. The sample was filtered by articles published between 1990 and 2020, with the search terms restricted to the title of the work, ensuring thematic precision. The data were exported for bibliometric analysis and construction of semantic networks in the VOSviewer software. The results revealed a progressive growth in publications from 2005 onwards, with emphasis on countries such as Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Brazil. The analysis of keywords identified thematic clusters associated with remote sensing techniques, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis methods, reflecting the integration between geomorphology and geotechnologies. International collaboration networks demonstrated interactions between researchers from different regions, without significant isolation. It is concluded that geomorphological mapping remains a growing scientific area, with methodological specialization and diverse applications, from environmental management to natural hazard prevention.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jonathas Jesus dos Santos, Gabriel Santos da Mota, Rebeca Durço Coelho, Jurandyr Luciano Sanches Ross https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Contributions of Geomorphology in the context of hydrological-hydraulic modeling of urban surface runoff
The expansion of urbanized areas in recent decades has imposed growing challenges on urban ecosystems, highlighting the complex interaction between human activities and the physical environment. In this context, geomorphology plays a fundamental role by providing methodological tools to understand the morphology of cities and its influence on hydrological processes. Urban road networks, including aspects related to surface impermeabilization, can significantly impact the direction of stormwater flow, compromising the effectiveness of drainage systems and increasing the risk of flooding and inundation. Disordered anthropogenic interference substantially alters the runoff dynamics of slopes, affecting the behavior of watersheds. Given this scenario, the present study aims to demonstrate the importance of adopting an integrated approach to understand the complex interaction between natural and anthropogenic elements. To this end, the research utilized hydrodynamic modeling of surface runoff at the microdrainage scale, analyzing it from the perspective of Urban and Anthropogenic Geomorphology. This approach seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of urban geomorphological processes and to develop more effective strategies for stormwater management.
Copyright (c) 2024 Luiz Humberto de Freitas Souza, Silvio Carlos Rodrigues, Jean Roger Bombonatto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Assessment of weather types analysis through machine learning techinques
The present research proposes a methodological technique for the Synoptic Analysis of the Types of Weather in a given location based on Machine Learning models. For this study, climatic data of eight variables were collected on a daily scale for the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, for the year 2022 as input. A Principal Component Analysis was carried out with the organized dataset, which, the eight input variables were combined into one. After that, the values of this single variable underwent a clustering process, originating clusters that denote the different types of weather that acted in the analyzed location. By way of comparison, a synoptic analysis was performed using the Rhythmic Analysis technique for the same dataset. The model results indicated the occurrence of four types of meteorological weather in Natal during the analyzed period. Although it presented inconsistencies with Rhythmic Analysis, the automated proposal proved to be satisfactory given the ease of application and possibility of application in large volume datasets. In times of climate change, large volumes of meteorological data enable new ways of analyzing the present climate and interpreting its interactions with geographic space.
Copyright (c) 2025 Leonardo Lima de Oliveira, Francisco Jablinski Castelhano, Dayvid Carlos Medeiros https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Use of drones in agricultural monitoring generation of vegetation index with RGB camera in sorghum crops
This study brings the results of a project funded by CNPq that aims to adapt a drone for civil use and rotary wings of the DJI/Phantom 4 line for the monitoring of commercial sorghum plantations at the Federal University of Jataí through the vegetation index VARI (Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index) and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). As methodology, 06 overflights were carried out between April and July 2021 and 07 overflights were carried out between March and July 2022 in two plots of 3ha in areas cultivated with sorghum, with generation of VARI from the orthophotos of the RGB camera and comparison with indices generated from the Sentinel-2 image. The aerial photographs were georeferenced with points collected by Trimble R4 GNSS and mosaicked in Metashape® software. The other processing steps were performed in ArcGIS PRO® software, with 32 samples of 20mx20m (04 pixels from the Sentinel-2 image) for statistical validation. Among the results, it was possible to obtain a coefficient of determination of 0.94 and a performance index D of 0.90 when comparing VARI values measured by the RGB camera and those obtained from Sentinel-2 images, and a coefficient of determination of 0.87 and a D index of 0.98 between VARI/drone and NDVI/Sentinel-2, indicating excellent performance for monitoring vegetation index without infrared camera support. The mean error between VARI/drone and VARI/Sentinel-2 values was 0.0037, indicating high agreement between the variables with slight overestimation of the values by the DJI/Phantom 4 RGB camera.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alécio Perini Martins, Nicoly Girotto Morais, Carlos Eduardo Damasceno, Áquila Luiza Oliveira da Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Trend study of precipitation and flow in the Sorocaba-Médio-Tietê Hydrographic Basin from 1980 to 2020: subsidies for integrated management
Brazil has been experiencing sequential water scarcity crises across various regions, including the state of São Paulo. This scenario is particularly concerning given climate change projections that may, significant influence seasonal rainfall and streamflow patterns in watersheds. Considering this, the present study aimed to trend analysis of precipitation and streamflow in the Sorocaba, Sarapuí and Peixe rivers within the Sorocaba-Médio Tietê watershed. Streamflow and precipitation data from 1980 to 2020 were obtained from three monitoring station maintained by the Department of Water and Electric Energy (DAEE). Trend analysis was performed using the Mann-Kendall and Pettitt tests. The statistical tests did not reveal significant changes in the precipitation and streamflow patterns. However, the analysis identified a decreasing trend in mean rainfall volumes relatives to historical averages since 2000; a positive trend in consecutive dry days and increasing rainfall intensity, contributing to flood and landslide events The trend study, when characterizing the decrease in rainfall and flow, mainly in the 2000s, combined with the increase in demand for water use, reveals a worrying scenario for the public supply and economic activities of the BHSMT in the coming decades.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rubens Jose Mário Júnior, Manuel Enrique Gamero Guandique, Adelaide Cassia Nardocci https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Investigation on the relationship between extratropical cyclones and storm surge events in southern Brazil
This study identifies storm surges and examines their association with extratropical cyclones on the Brazilian coast in 2018, with a particular focus on the Itajaí region in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Extratropical cyclones significantly impact weather and climate, leading to extreme wave events that affect the economy and environment, especially in Brazilian coastal areas. Therefore, this research aims to analyze storm-related cyclone characteristics, genesis areas, and their relationship with storm surges. Storm surges were identified in the time series based on segments where significant wave height (SWH) exceeded 2.5 meters and was sustained for at least 24 hours. This study identified all storm surges that occurred in 2018, providing an overview of these events and the cyclones responsible for generating the waves. The year 2018 was selected to allow a comparison between climate reanalysis data and buoy observations. In that year, 157 extratropical cyclones were identified in the region between Brazil and Argentina. These cyclones did not exhibit a distinct seasonal pattern. A monthly analysis showed that storm surge activity was highest between June and October, with two to three events per month. Wave direction data indicated that the most intense storm surges had a median wave direction from the south/southeast. This suggests a compounded event in which sea level rise is promoted by a cyclone further south, while wave generation occurs due to a cyclone acting closer to the coast. Most cyclones associated with storm surges originated in the La Plata region and along Brazil’s southern and southeastern coast. The results of this study can help improve the prediction and mitigation of coastal hazards, particularly in the context of climate change.
Copyright (c) 2024 Maiquel Jantsch, Carolina B. Gramcianinov, Francisco Eliseu Aquino https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The concept of social areas and its application in the spatial analysis of homicides: case study of the municipality of Piracicaba, São Paulo
Throughout history, various theories linked to criminology have addressed the relationship between the spatial organization of cities and crime. From the pioneering studies of Guerry and Quetelet in the 19th century to current analyses at the micro-location level, there has been a progression in the detail of the scales of analysis and the use of more advanced statistical techniques. In Brazil, studies often use census tracts to investigate the correlation between crime and socio-economic variables. This methodological approach should be used cautiously due to statistical problems when analyzing rare events, such as homicides, in areas with few observations. Given the above, the main objective of this article was to analyze the spatial dimension of homicides in Piracicaba/SP using social areas as the unit of analysis and the theoretical perspective of social disorganization. Information on homicides was obtained from police reports issued by the São Paulo State Public Security Secretariat (SPP). The data covers the period from 2008 to 2012 and was compared with the variables collected in the IBGE Demographic Census (2010). The methodological procedures used geotechnologies to spatialize homicides and for spatial analysis, including mapping clusters and outliers, data grouping, exploratory regression, and spatial regression models. The results indicate partial support for the social disorganization theory to explain homicides in Piracicaba/SP.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eder Roberto Silvestre, Andréia Medinilha Pancher https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Landscapes, windows of the geographical soul
The objective of this article is to investigate the concept of landscape from phenomenological perspectives, revealing its fields of vision and meanings. In order to do so, it demonstrates the differences between the definition of landscape in Traditional Geography and the way phenomenological approaches suggest its own definitions. Specifically, this article leaves visible the debate on vision as a central element of the landscape, highlighting the ways in which Humanistic Geography and postmodern geographies emphasize subjectivity, immateriality and consciousness in their understandings. The approaches that Humanistic Geography and postmodern geographies conduct their phenomenological contributions are not the same and their distinctions were underlined in this text. Thereby, such forms of geographic work have contributed to expanding the subjects covered by geographic research, in addition to multiplying work methodologies in Human Geography more generally. Preference was given to citations from primary bibliographic sources, such as Yi Fu Tuan, David Ley, Edward Relph, John Wylie, among other authors. We hope to avoid the biases of synthetic and total analyses, which often reduce the diversity of geographic knowledge. Finally, this article aims to clarify doubts in the use of the concept of landscape that are common among Geography students.
Copyright (c) 2024 Rodrigo Ramos Hospodar Felippe Valverde https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Geography of voting: influences of territorial singularities in the presidential elections from Brazil to Maranhão
This article set out to analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of the presidential elections in Brazil, between 2018 and 2022, as well as understand the trends and territorial patterns of elections at the national level and how they are reproduced on a regional and local scale in the state. of Maranhão, as well as revealing regional trends and identifying political and ideological divisions. The methodological proposal was developed as an ecological study under a systemic and multidisciplinary approach. To this end, Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis tools - AEDE and the Geographic Information System - GIS (factor and cluster analysis) were used. In Maranhão, as well as in other states in the Brazilian Northeast, there is a strong PT electoral stronghold, with emphasis on the north and northeast regions of the state. However, there is an increase in the electorate linked to Bolsonarist agendas in the center-south and southwest, with the support of conservative sectors connected to businesspeople, religious and agribusiness leaders. On the other hand, it is considered that the advancement of polarization should not be measured exclusively by indicators linked to income, class and race, but it is necessary to examine the regional and local historical and cultural context. In general, the research results demonstrate that electoral dynamics can serve as a proxy to understand sociodemographic, cultural and historical factors and dynamics at different scales.
Copyright (c) 2024 Yata Anderson Gonzaga Masullo, Rubens Pereira e Silva Junior https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
A new approach to mapping contaminated land data as a contribution to the assessment of urban environmental quality
Environmental pollution is a current challenge facing urban centers globally. Contaminated land are sites that, as a result of previous use and occupation, have polluting substances in the soil, subsoil and groundwater. Managing and understanding the data related to contaminated land is fundamental to achieving sustainable urban planning that promotes environmentally healthy cities and communities. In this work, a new approach to mapping contaminated areas was developed in order to improve the visualization of information and the proposition of an environmental quality indicator. Through documentary research, quantitative secondary data was obtained, which enabled the construction of two databases. These were stored and processed, adding geospatial information, allowing maps to be drawn up using ArcGIS 10.8.1 software. The new mapping approach made it possible to identify the districts with the highest occurrence of contaminated land in the city of São Paulo, Santo Amaro, Ipiranga and Lapa. In addition, it indicated the districts with the highest number of contaminated lands with confirmed risk. The indicator developed was applied on two scales: to the state of São Paulo, identifying the city of São Caetano do Sul with the highest rate of contaminated lands; and to the city of São Paulo, whose district with the highest result is Santa Cecília. The results also show the cities in the state of São Paulo and the districts in the city of São Paulo where there is no contaminated land. The analyses carried out show that contaminated land is widespread in the city of São Paulo. However, remediated areas can be observed more frequently in districts closer to the downtown area. The indicator developed in this study can be adopted in any Brazilian state or city and its application could contribute to a better understanding of the different regional realities, providing data to support the development of public urban planning policies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Juliana dos Santos Lino, André Gomes Lamas Otero, Delvonei Alves de Andrade https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Field chronicles in the Amazon: conflicts, daily life and living stories in Rondônia
In geography, fieldwork is for geographers what immersion and ethnography are for anthropologists and sociologists. The text makes a research record, based on our fieldwork that took place in the central region of Rondônia. Starting in Porto Velho, capital of the state, at first, it was traveled for about 500 km by BR-364 – which connects Rondônia to other states (Mato Grosso, Acre, Amazonas) – and by highway 470 – which connects to PIC Ouro Preto, the Margarida Alves, Palmares and Padre Ezequiel settlements and the important Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau indigenous land. At another time, a field visit was made at two unique moments: at the “VII Festa Camponesa”, organized by Via Campesina de Rondônia; and at the agricultural fair “Rondônia Rural Show Internacional”, completing our research record. There are themes dear to geography such as violation of human and territorial rights and conflicts in the countryside in Rondônia, expansion of the livestock (beef cattle) and grain (soybean and corn) agribusiness and invasion of Protected Areas and community territories. Themes of moods and geographic affections are also registered, “exploring” everyday life, living histories, strategies for the social reappropriation of land, territories and nature and the expanded production of life in the Amazon.
Copyright (c) 2023 Lucas Ramos de Matos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
A new approach to mapping continental tropics based on the relationship between temperature, altitude, and latitude
There are several approaches to defining the concepts of the intertropical region and tropical climates. The main definitions use latitude, annual average temperature, daily and annual thermal amplitude, and the general circulation of the atmosphere. This article aims to propose a new approach to the classification of the tropical zone on continents, distinguishing the globe into two domains: tropical and non-tropical, using three variables: annual average temperature, latitude, and altitude. A simplified model of the temperature-latitude relationship, called the trapezoidal model, was proposed, and using piecewise regression, the latitudinal thresholds dividing the globe into the two domains were obtained. The main result of this research is the proposition of mapping the tropics based on the definition that they have a low latitudinal variation in air temperature. In non-tropical regions, on the other hand, there is an inversely proportional linear relationship between temperature and latitude. Other results include: i) In the Southern Hemisphere, the limits are close to the Tropic of Capricorn, while in the Northern Hemisphere, the limits are south of the Tropic of Cancer at low altitudes and north at high altitudes. ii) Continental tropics in the Northern Hemisphere extend to higher latitudes compared to the Southern Hemisphere. iii) The trapezoidal model for describing global temperature allowed the calculation of latitudinal temperature gradients. iv) In the tropics, gradients are low (close to zero), whereas in non-tropical zones, gradients have similar averages (around 0.8°C/φ) but exhibit very different behaviors in the two hemispheres.
Copyright (c) 2024 Otávio Cristiano Montanher, Cíntia Minaki https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Pedogenesis and taxonomy: historical retrospective and future scenarios
Soils can be categorized, ranked, and classified by common physical, chemical, biological, and morphological characteristics. Classification systems have evolved from grouping based on comparative diagnostic criteria to less rigid taxonomy techniques, which allow the introduction of free-form qualifiers. In general, soil taxonomy systems have evolved as methods and equipment for analyzing and collecting environmental data have improved. Such advances provided more dynamic classifications, with increasingly specific and accurate groupings, making them indispensable tools for the management of natural resources in an effective and sustainable way. Thus, in this review, the main theories of taxonomy and the fundamental processes operating in soils at the most important pedogenetic zones in the world were highlighted. Additionally, the architectures of the main soil classification systems were compared, aiming to establish relationships, differences, and correspondences. Their applications for improving sustainable practices in the use and management of pedological resources were also assessed. Thus, it was pointed out that classification systems are tools that must be applied using international standards, to raise, monitor and promote sustainable changes in land use and management, as environmental impacts are increasingly global and heterogeneous, and demand coordinated and collective efforts among different countries.
Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos
Copyright (c) 2024 Joaquim Ernesto Bernardes Ayer, Luca Lämmle, Archimedes Perez Filho, Bruno Araújo Torres, Felipe Gomes Rubira, Guilherme Henrique Expedito Lense, Derielsen Brandão Santana, Vinícius Borges Moreira, Ronaldo Luiz Mincato https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Serviços ecossistêmicos de sub-biomas de planície costeira e de baixa-média encosta
The Brazilian coast faces significant challenges due to conflicts of use and economic pressures. The São Paulo coastal zone, in particular, has experienced rapid unplanned urbanization and intense resource degradation, especially on the North Coast. The evident degradation in Restinga's ecosystems is associated with the pressure of real estate speculation and economic activities. This study focuses on the municipality of Ubatuba, identifying Sub-biomes and associating them with Ecosystem Services (ES) to understand the relationship between vegetation and Quaternary Units. Using satellite data and vector layers. Vegetation mapping revealed five phytophysiognomies. The intersection between vegetation and Quaternary Units resulted in 26 Sub-biomes. The association of SE with Sub-biomes identified 10 potential services. Most phytophysiognomies are associated with at least seven ES. The results highlight the need to understand the relationships between vegetation, sedimentary substrate and ES, providing valuable insights for the recovery of degraded areas and future legislative revisions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anne Karoline de Oliveira, Celia Regina de Gouveia Souza https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Evaporation in water reservoirs: a review of empirical methods/techniques
In Brazil, research into the influence of water reservoirs on the local microclimate (temperature, rainfall, winds, for example) began in the 1980s and, in this context, research into the evaporation processes of these reservoirs began in the late 1990s. Faced with an undeniably warmer planet, the capacity of these reservoirs to lose water through evaporation reinforces concerns about water security (supply and energy generation, for example). The aim of this work is therefore to review the main methodologies/techniques for estimating evaporation applied to water reservoirs, with the aim of analyzing the most effective and the most widely used according to the availability of data and their accuracy for application. The research revealed several methodologies and techniques adopted for estimating evaporation in reservoirs (SEBAL Algorithm, Bowen Balance-Ratio, Penman-Monteith (adapted/simplified), Priestley-Taylor/De Bruin & Keijman, Dalton, Linacre, Class "A" Tank, METRIC, Kohler, Complementary Relationship Areal Evapotranspiration/Complementary Relationship Lake Evaporation - CRAE/CRLE and Thornthwaite/ Thornthwaite and Mather and Thorthwaite modified by Camargo). However, due to the ease of access to meteorological data series, application of these techniques and representativeness of evaporated values - feasibility, simplicity and reliability - the methods/techniques of Penman-Monteith, Linacre, Thornthwaite, CRLE, Kohler and Class "A" Tank, were the most recommended. Finally, the research also revealed that, considering the typical tropical climate conditions (rainfall seasonality/high temperatures) and the ease of application from meteorological variables that are common to be obtained (temperature, for example), the methods/techniques of Linacre, Thorntwaite, Thorntwaite modified by Camargo and Class "A" Tank were most recommended for locations with low data availability.
Copyright (c) 2023 Fabio de Oliveira Sanches, Matheus da Silva Frauches, Cássia de Castro Martins Ferreira, Yan Carlos Gomes Vianna, Thiago Alves Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Landscape ecology analysis of the Itajaí River hydrographical basin, SC, Brazil
From the understanding of the dynamic landscape and human influence on landscape fragmentation processes, Landscape Ecology has evolved as a tool for spatial analysis. This study aimed to analyze the Landscape Ecology of the hydrographical basin of the Itajaí River in Santa Catarina, Brazil, with the intention of assessing priority areas to compose the mosaic of Protected Areas, including those already legally protected. The goal is to provide elements for conservation planning in order to expand protection and connectivity between these areas. QGIS and LecoS were used in the analysis. The results revealed the prevalence of Forest Formation in the hydrographical basin of the Itajaí River, in Protected Areas, and in other areas of the basin where there is a need to increase the proportion of protected areas to ensure the structural and functional connectivity of the remaining Forest Remnants.
Copyright (c) 2023 Vanessa Dambrowski, Rosemeri Carvalho Marenzi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Fieldwork in forest and non-forest phytophysiognomies in Roraima, within the scope of the PRODES and DETER projects
This report documents observations and analyses from fieldwork conducted between March 20 and 28, 2023, in the state of Roraima, as a collaboration between the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Agency of Roraima (Embrapa Roraima). The study investigated selected features in both forested and non-forested areas, confirming their anthropization status according to the PRODES and DETER monitoring programs (INPE). Additionally, it aimed to identify land uses and land covers in these areas. The fieldwork covered 2,288 km across eight out of fifteen municipalities in Roraima. Most observations in locations classified as "non-forest" by PRODES were in natural areas, while in forested regions, the majority of points were linked to deforested areas. The results provide valuable insights to enhance Amazon monitoring programs, including interpretation guidelines with feature examples and a detailed document describing the 1,042 visited points.
Copyright (c) 2024 Cassiano Gustavo Messias, Haron A. Magalhães Xaud, Maristela Ramalho Xaud, Douglas Rafael V. de Moraes, Raíssa Caroline dos S. Teixeira, Vivian Renó, Noeli Aline P. Moreira, Deborah L. Correia-Lima, Jefferson J. de Souza, Lucélia S. de Barros, Ana Carolina Santos de Andrade, Amanda P. Belluzzo, Delmina Carla M. Barradas, Thiago C. de Lima, Igor P. Cunha, Luiz Henrique A. Gusmão, Letícia P. Perez, Maira Ramalho Matias, João Felipe S. K. C. Pinto, Manoel R. Ribeiro Neto, Vagner Luis Camilotti, Evandro Carlos Costa Neves, Fábio Corrêa Alves, Arlesson Antonio de Almeida Souza, Libério J. da Silva, Luciana Soler, Luiz Eduardo Maurano, Cláudio Aparecido de Almeida, Marcos Adami https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0