Use of terrain evaluation techniques in the study of drainage network changes in microbasins of the Capivari River Basin, state of São Paulo, Brazil

In this paper the drainage network is considered as a geo-indicator of the environmental changes that haven taken place over a period of 23 years in three hydrographic microbasins in the São Paulo State (Brazil). The verification of the natural conditions of the physical environment was based on terrain evaluation for homogeneity of landforms and the materials associated with them. In order to identify the alterations, a temporal analysis of the drainage network morphometric variables and land use was made. The morphometric analysis indicates a decrease in the number of first-order channels and in the total length of all channels, with a consequential modification of the drainage and hydrographic densities. The losses and gains of the first-order channels were influenced by the slope, type of bedrock and presence of unconsolidated material. The catalyst for these changes was mainly the inadequate control of urban expansion and the intensive agricultural activities. © Springer-Verlag 2004.