Geoclimatic unities chart of Parana State, Brazil, for forestry

Abstract

Identifying areas of similar ecological conditions, such as climate, soils and vegetation have many potential uses, since land use planning, including agroforestry planning, to conservation of natural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to produce a climate zoning chart, supported by statistical analysis and also using geomorphological criteria to define the geoclimatic units. As a result of the interpretation of cluster analysis using metereological data, the Paran State was divided,
at first, into two broad groups: hotter areas and colder areas. Among the hotter areas, the coastal areas were separated from continental areas and others divisions were obtained. A relevance table, presented in this paper consists in a great practical tool, because it is useful to allow species to be planted more suitably, since we have the knowledge about the species weather conditions requirements, such as the best minimum and average temperature, frost resistance, drought seasons, etc. This chart may be supplemented with information from others newer climatic stations installed in the Paraná State and can be transformed into edafoclimatic chart, using soils and water balance information.

doi: 10.4336/2010.pfb.30.62.129