O clima em áreas limítrofes ao planalto meridional do espinhaço: Belo Horizonte, Sete Lagoas e Conceição do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais - Brasil

Abstract

This article analyzes the influence of air masses, topography and land use in the variations of rainfall and air temperature in Belo Horizonte, Sete Lagoas and Conceição do Mato Dentro, in the center-east of Minas Gerais-Brazil, covering portions of the southern plateau of the Espinhaço and basins of the rivers São Francisco and Doce, characterized by the intense rural and urban occupation. The analysis was based on the data analysis of climatological means (1961-1990) and time series of meteorological stations of the official network (1961-2017). The results showed variations in annual rainfall totals, defining dry, rainy and usual years, whose magnitude may influence the water availability in the region, as well as variations of air temperature with a significant correlation value associated with the changes introduced in the primitive vegetation cover.