The Rio de Janeiro state has a high annual rainfall and a heterogeneous spatial distribution of precipitation. In the south of the state, where Ilha Grande Bay Hydrographic Region (RHBIG) is located, the combination of dynamic factors and local physiographic characteristics, especially the presence of Serra do Mar, causes the occurrence of the highest annual rainfall in Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this study is to evaluate the spatial distribution of precipitation in the RHBIG, through the interpolation of rainfall data from 31 pluviometric stations located in the study area and nearby. To figure out the dependence of the static factors (topography and location) on the distribution of rainfall over the study area, correlation of the rainfall data and terrain slope, aspect, coast proximity and altimetry of the study area was done. The results showed that the altitude and distance from the coast presented higher correlations with the spatial pattern of rainfall, indicating that the annual, seasonal and monthly spatial distribution of rainfall is strongly influenced by topography and distance from the coast.
precipitation; DTM; GIS; Ilha Grande Bay
