Influence of morphometric characteristics of the Benevente River watershed in Alfredo Chaves Municipality - Espírito Santo State

Floods affect the lives of thousands of people around the world and their causes may be related to both natural and anthropogenic factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the Benevente River watershed morphometry and the occurrence of floods in the town of Alfredo Chaves, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The database consisted of a digital elevation model (ASTER), a vector hydrographic network of IBGE and a 40-year period series of daily precipitation. The morphometric parameters were obtained using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The study area has an elongated shape, with a high drainage density, strongly undulate topography and an average slope of 42.75%. The altitude ranged from 480 to 1591 m. November, December and January were the wettest months, with a monthly average rainfall of 246.7, 261.5 and 204.2 mm, respectively. It was concluded that high slopes of the basin and of the main river, coupled with increased use and occupation of the land, exerts significant influence on the runoff in the basin, increasing the chances of the occurrence of flood peaks.