Flood-Driven Landscape Dynamics in Southeastern Amazon Delta-Estuary Watersheds

Abstract

Extreme meteorological and climate events, such as floods and prolonged droughts, cause socio-environmental disasters in several regions of the world, including the Amazon. The Amazon Delta-Estuary, which is shaped by coastal and river environments, has constantly changing land use patterns, making it vulnerable to such events. This study aimed to evaluate rainfall regimes and flood scenarios in the tributaries of the Amazon Delta-Estuary, known as the Ottocoded River sub-basins, which are located in the municipalities of Abaetetuba and Barcarena in the Brazilian state of Pará. The Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) dataset was used to analyze rainfall dynamics. The Height Above the Nearest Drainage (HAND) model was employed for flood modeling. The geomorphological, altimetric, bathymetric, and hydrodynamic components of the water bodies were also analyzed. Flood susceptibility was zoned as follows: Very High, High, Medium, Low and Very Low. Of the surveyed buildings, 28.8% were classified as ‘Very High’, 29.1% as ‘High’, 20.2% as ‘Medium’, 13.4% as ‘Low’, and 8.5% as ‘Very Low’. Many of these buildings are located in flood-prone areas, posing a significant risk of socio-environmental disasters. This research could inform public policies aimed at managing the risks associated with environmental disasters and extreme events.