This work aimed to map monthly and annual rainfall erosivity (EI30) mean, to analyze rainfall erosivity distribution, during rainfall season, and to identify rainfall erosivity zones in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Daily pluviometric data from 248 weather stations dispersed in the State were used to determine the Fournier´s rainfall coefficient (Rc). Based on the relation EI30 x Rc obtained for some locations, EI30 was calculated for each weather station. Geostatistical tools were applied to map EI30 and pluviometric data. Minas Gerais comprises three zones with annual rainfall erosivity varying from 5,000 to 12,000 MJ mm ha-1 year-1: medium-high erosivity, for central, northeastern and part of Zona da Mata; high, for Triângulo Mineiro (extreme of the region), and part of northeast and south of State; and very high, for most part of Triângulo Mineiro, Alto Paranaíba, northwest and east of State. Rainfall erosion behavior has not presented relation with latitude and longitude, and was influenced by orographic effect and weather characteristics of each region.
water erosion; cartography; geostatistic; EI30
