TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AMOUNT FOR PERIODS DRY AND WET (1980-2009) FOR THE DOWN STROKE APODI-MOSSORÓ/RN

Abstract

The present paper aims at using the Quantis Technique for the determination of drought and rain periods, corresponding to the historical series in the 30-year stretch between 1980-2009 of the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte-EMPARN, using the Pinkayan and Terezinha Xavier methodology. Up to the present time (2011) according to research in books and periodicals, a quantilic technique has not been applied to this area of investigation. Five categories have been used to analise the quantis technique: very dry, dry, normal, rainy and very rainy. This classification has been set in an annual scale in order to help in data systematization and in the collection of normal or regular rain figures in the low Apodi-Mossoró watercourse, represented by the quantis Q(0.15), Q(0.35), Q(0.50), Q(0.65) e Q(0.85). Important information has been gathered about the climate regime in the area under study correlated to the extreme classes (very dry and very rainy), and these correlations have served as the starting point of research on socio-environmental impacts associated to natural disasters, as well as in water resources management, hydrology studies, urban and agricultural planning and as a likely source of information for other works and research projects.