APLICAÇÃO DO TOPMODEL PARA IDENTIFICAÇÃO DAS ÁREAS SATURADAS NA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO CASCAVEL EM GUARAPUAVA-PR

Abstract

This article aimed at imitating the process of the water flow in the watershed of Cascavel River, in Guarapuava, Paraná through the application of hydrological model TOPMODEL (Topography-based hydrological model). This simulation had the purpose of identifying the saturated areas. The BHRC has an area around of 81, 03 km² and 40% of its total area is urbanized. For the calibration and validation procedure of the model, hourly data were used among June, 2011 and May, 2012. The data were divided in two parts for the simulation. The efficiency index in the simulation of model validation was COE 0, 58. The correlation index among the data regarding to calibration, observed and calculated, demonstrated and index of R²= 0, 75, which shows a good adherence between these data. The model simulated satisfactorily the process of water flow in the watershed of Cascavel River and after this process it was possible to identify the saturated areas in the watershed, which varied from 10, 4% in the minimal saturation and 30, 1% in the maximal saturation. For the BHRC topographical index were found values that varied from 1 to 21, however the most expressive areas had the topographical index from 5 to 10. Regarding to the saturated areas, the values were from 9, 4 to 8,1, and this gap is considered to be the cause of a greater probability of saturation. It can be stated that most of the saturated areas in the watershed correspond to the areas of hydromorphic soils, valley floors, areas around river ways, and peaty areas. The hydrological model TOPMODEL proved to be efficient to identify the saturated areas in the watershed of Cascavel River, with its humid weather and gentle landforms, and it also stood out as an important and efficient tool in the hydrological studies.