Geomorphological landscape analysis for the study of surface and groundwater in a carbonate rock environment in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The relief is formed by the conjunction of processes that can be influenced to a greater or lesser extent by the morphostructure or morphosculpture, both of which act in the formation of the landscape. This work aims to, through the analysis of relief formation, provide subsidies for the studies of the run-off and the groundwater in an area of carbonate rocks in the north of Minas Gerais. The geomorphological landscape of this area is strongly influenced by morphostructural factors. Such influence is observed in the rectilinear drainage pattern of some rivers, in the presence of structural valleys, in abrupt changes in the direction of drainage net, and in scarps aligned in the same direction of joints and faults present in the area. Such structural influence is quite clear in the southern and central portions of the study area, being less significant in the northern portion, which has a much higher concentration of sinkholes than what was observed in the other areas. Considering a systemic perspective of the processes and dynamics that act on the surface and underground, this work presents these results of the formation of the geomorphological landscape so that such analysis helps in understanding the dynamics of groundwater in this area, as well as the relationship between surface waters and underground.

Keywords

• Geomorphological mapping
• Geomorphogenesis
• Morphostructure
• Karst environment
• Water resources
• Hydrogeology