AGROCLIMATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF STATE OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL USING THE THORNTHWAITE METHOD (1948)

Abstract

The present work aimed at characterizing Mato Grosso do Sul's climate by means of Thornthwaite and Mather's (1955) water balance and Thornthwaite's (1948) humidity index. Historical series of climate data from the 79 municipalities of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) between 1987 and 2017 were used. The variables used for the study were average air temperature, annual precipitation, reference evapotranspiration, components of the water balance: water deficit (DEF), water surplus (EXC) and the humidity index (Iu). The daily meteorological elements air temperature and precipitation were collected in the NASA/POWER platform, so the Reference Evapotranspiration was estimated by the method of Camargo (1971), together with the water balance, using electronic spreadsheets. The air temperature in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul presents two well defined periods during the year, being one dry period and the other rainy. It was concluded that the climate type C2 - sub-humid is the most predominant in MS. In general, the average annual temperature of the state is 24ºC with accumulated average annual precipitation of 1,379 mm, with a water characterization of 234.78 mm annual-1 of water surplus, water deficit of 80.8 mm annual-1 and potential evapotranspiration of 1,144.8 mm annual-1.