Hydrological modelling of Maranhão and Pracana Basins, a first approach

Modelling the hydrology of hydrographic basins has shown itself as a useful tool in environment management. The hydrological models can be used for multiple purposes: estimate runoff from sequences of rainfall, access stream water quality, quantify the diffuse pollution that reaches water masses such as estuaries, rivers and lakes, etc. This study has as final objective to simulate and analyse the flow, sediment transport and water quality as a function of landuse and soil type in the basins of Maranhão and Pracana. The modelling system used is SWAT, Soil Water Assessment Tool. In this first phase of the study the hydrodynamic calibration of the model was performed using measurements of average daily flows in five stations. The model compares well with the measurements; the annual average flows are similar and the majority of the measured flow peaks coincide with the model peaks.

A cidade, os conventos e as suas hortas

Após a Reconquista Cristã, Tavira foi a primeira cidade do Algarve a receber uma casa conventual. Em 1312, uma comunidade de franciscanos claustrais1 instalou-se fora de portas, a sul do núcleo amuralhado, perto de uma das suas vias de acesso. A igreja do convento, com cabeceira orientada a nascente, implantou-se perpendicularmente à via, formalizando um largo junto à sua fachada lateral, as dependências conventuais localizaram-se do lado direito da igreja em torno do claustro e a sua cerca ocupou uma vasta área nos arrabaldes do núcleo urbano.