Caracterização do Regime Hidrológico do Rio Madre de Dios utilizando Altimetria Espacial

Southwestern Amazonia, where Bolivia, Peru and Brazil meet, faces numerous challenges to the sustainable utilization of water resources as the region experiences rapid population and economic growth, expanding agriculture, transportation and energy sectors, along withfrequent flooding and droughts. Yet, despite the critical role that water plays in the life and biodiversity of the region, in-situ data availability is limited and little is known about the condition of the streams and rivers. Radar altimetry data have been recognized as an alternative to in-situ hydrological data in remote areas and have the potential to fill critical information gaps in such ungauged or poorly gauged basins. We have computed 15 water level time series and annual water level hydrographs of the Madre De Dios River in Southeastern Peru and Northwestern Bolivia, using ENVISAT altimetry data over the period 2002-2010.Trends and variability in hydrological regime were analyzed for Madre De Dios River. The hydrological regime is characterized by a multimodal flood wave, fast rise and slow recession. Drought has occurred during the months of August to September, and flood has occurred during December to February. The amplitude of the water stage denotes higher values downstream while the values much lower upstream reaches. These results demonstrate that the altimetry ENVISAT data to measure and monitor the transient flood waves of this trans- boundary river can be realized and are the basis for further understanding of the ecohydrological processes of the Madeira River Basin.