Avaliação da frequência de eventos extremos de inundação nas principais sub-bacias do rio Paraná

Abstract

The generalized distribution of extreme values (GEV) has been frequently applied in studies aimed at solving hydrological problems. The main objective of this study was to calculate the frequency and intensity of the distribution of extreme flood events in the main sub-basins of the Paraná River by applying extreme value theory. To estimate the parameters of the GEV distribution, the linear moments method was used, which proved to be sufficient and less computationally costly. Six sub-basins (Alto Paranapanema, Baixo Iguaçu, Ivai River, Mogi-Guaçu River, Rio dos Bois and Tibagi River) were chosen for comparative analysis of mean precipitation, mean flow, trend of maximum and average precipitation, distribution of extreme events flood, average specific flow rate, drainage rate, and finally the index flood. The dataset used, which has different duration, are from period of 1984 to 2013. The highest mean precipitation was found in the sub-basins of Baixo Iguaçu, Piquiri River and Ivai River. Both, rise and fall trends, were observed in the sub-basins, depending on the month of the year. Higher seasonality of precipitation were observed in the sub-basins with hot summers, Alto Paranapanema, Mogi-Guaçu and Rio dos Bois. The Weibull distribution proved to be the most suitable for the region, although Fréchet and Gumbel distributions proved to be suitable for some particular sub-basins. Higher average flows and drainage rates were found in the subtropical climatic portion with temperate summer of the basin, where the sub-basins of Baixo Iguaçu, Ivai River and Tibagi River are located. The sub-basins most vulnerable to flooding are the Baixo-Iguaçu, Ivai River, Mogi-Guaçu and Tibagi River sub-basins, which are elongated basins, favoring a higher flow to the main channel. Higher values for the specific flow rate and drainage rate were found in the sub-basins of Ivaí, Tibagi and Baixo Iguaçu, with about 28 l/s/km2, representing a drainage rate of 45% of the average precipitation, a value above the 27% averaged for the Paraná Basin.