The knowledge of surface runoff is important for adequate hydraulic structures designing and for soil water conservation. The total volume of water from surface runoff is dependent of local edaphic, climatic and physiographic conditions. The objective of this study was to find out the relative importance of rainfall amount (P) and intensity (IP) and antecedent precipitation (PA) on total runoff (Es) provided by the "Capetinga" stream watershed, located in Brazil mid-west savannah region. It was analyzed watershed data for a six years period beginning on July 1st, 1996, and ending on June 30th, 2002. It was considered only Es events greater or equal to 0.1 mm, measured with a stream gage located at the watershed outlet. A set of 187 P, PA, IP and Es events were submitted to a linear multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the independent variable P, PA and IP had two and three-factor interactions, influencing the dependent variable Es. Regression coefficients of absolute values evidenced that IP was more important than PA to estimate de independent variable Es. The average total runoff coefficient value suggests that the watershed has a good condition of soil water infiltration.
water resources; savannah region; hydrological variables
