IAG 1999 Regional Conference on Geomorphology
Gloria Hotel of Rio de Janerio, Brasil, July 17-22, 1999
Abstracts - Sandra Baptista da Cunha and Antonio Jose Teixeira Guerra (Eds.)

MONITORING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DEEP GULLIES OF URBAN ZONES FROM ARAGUAÍNA CITY, TOCANTINS STATE, CENTRAL BRAZIL

Santos, C.A.1 and Ferreira Júnior, P.D.2

1 Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, MG, Brasil
2 Fundaçao Universidade do Tocantins, TO, Brasil
E-mail: clibson@degeo.ufop.br


An erosional process from the urban area of Araguaína has caused social and environmental problems to the whole community. In turn, a high financial cost to the government and to the population in general was provided by these problems. Thus, in order to find out the behavior of these erosional processes and raise the corrective and the preventive proceedings, we have done a careful study, which consists in the monitoring of three areas where deep gullies been developing. Five others deep gullies were also observed, however, they do not present physical conditions to be monitored by the methodology adopted (pin, stake and profile method). Although such methodologies are most frequently used in the studies of fluvial marginal channels, we have done some adjustments in them to apply in our study. One of the deep gullies under study (Voçoroca Alfredo Nasser) has grows faster with the slope from point 01 retreat. In the deep gullies (Ravina Filadélfia), we have observed the same characteristic, however, the to move back is much more modest. The other deep gully (Voçoroca Murici) shows a different behavior. It remains stable since two year ago because the deviation of the pluvial waters flux. The corrective and preventive procedure that we have achieved from the collected data is the implementations of superficial drainage systems close the edges and inside of each erosion. Another alternative is the building of dam in the down direction in the erosion. In conclusion, we have noted that the better manner to prevent, control and correct the erosional process is planning the urbanization. With this procedure we can avoid the main agent, which is the influx of superficial water promoted by the pavimentation of the streets and the lack of superficial drainage systems.


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