LIGHT RAIN CHARACTERIZATION IN PIRACICABA, SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT The disorderly soil occupation without the necessary conservationist practices leads to impacts on the local hydrology and induces the pollution of water resources. This pollution may come from more urbanized areas due to the amount of pollutants drained during the rains. Even moderate precipitations constitute one of the main factors that define pollutant runoff on the surface. These rains have recently been called light rains. Light rains have a lower precipitation height and a higher frequency compared to classic rains of drainage projects, being necessary to define them according to patterns of rain frequency for each region. This study aimed to characterize light rain in the municipality of Piracicaba to establish statistical standards for the frequency of certain precipitation heights. A database provided by the ESALQ/USP automatic weather station, which provides precipitation measurements every 15 minutes, was used in the present study. Light rain heights reached 40.3, 41.4, and 42.7 mm for 100, 90, or 80% frequencies, respectively, which implies the use of return periods of 1.00, 1.11, and 1.25 years, respectively.