Geo-Environmental Characterization and Geomorphological Compartmentalization of Quincuncá Mountain Range and its Surroundings, Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

The natural framework knowledge of the Quincuncá mountain range, located in the Brazilian semi - arid, was developed with the aim of contributing to the understanding of its geomorphological compartmentalization. However, the integrative nature of the geomorphological research provides important subsidies to the knowledge of the spatial reality, contributing in the environmental planning in the sense of finding alternatives to improve the quality of the local population’s life. The mapping of the geomorphological units was performed based on photo interpretations of the texture and roughness of sets of relief shapes which are associated to the main regional geological structures from several remote sensors, SPOT5 satellite images and Digital Elevation Model (MDE). The natural framework characterization was elaborated from field works between 2014 and 2016, and interpretation of thematic charts at different scales. Two morphostructural units were identified (elevated and undercut surfaces) and individualized on distinct morphoscultural surfaces (dissected erosion surfaces in ridges, hills, planed, tabular surfaces supported by laterites and surfaces of recent deposition), all of these sculpted under different modeling exogenous agents.