Inundações no médio curso da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Mundaú, Alagoas: o caso dos eventos extremos de 2010 e 2022

Abstract

Recurring floods in the middle course of the Mundaú River Basin reveal a historical context of susceptibility associated with hydromorphological processes and urban occupation marked by persistent social vulnerabilities. In this context, this dissertation aimed to analyze the extreme rainfall events that occurred in 2010 and 2022 in the municipalities of União dos Palmares, Branquinha, São José da Laje, and Santana do Mundaú, investigating how precipitation extremes were articulated with environmental characteristics and territorial dynamics in the production of disasters. The methodology integrated rainfall analysis, hydrogeomorphological characterization of the basin, land use assessment, systematization of socioeconomic data, as well as the conversion of the percentage losses reported by the World Bank (2012) into absolute values. Thematic maps and comparative tables were also produced to highlight spatial patterns and differences between the two events. The results showed that the 2010 event had the greatest impact ever recorded in the region, with high rainfall reaching approximately 600 mm in June, combined with the intense occupation of floodplains and damages concentrated in the housing sector. In 2022, although rainfall totals were also high, ranging from 320 mm to 350 mm during the months of the rainy season, post-2010 urban reorganization reduced part of the population’s direct exposure. It is concluded that the disasters analyzed resulted from the interaction between climatic extremes, environmental susceptibility, and social vulnerability, reaffirming that territorial management plays a decisive role in reducing human and material losses in future events.