THE “PLUVÍFERA” SCHOOL AND BRAZIL´S NORTHEAST DROUGHTS: THE “GARGALHEIRAS” CASE (1877-1959)

Abstract

The discussions and criticisms around Polytechnic Institute debates about the 1877 drought in the Northeast, and specifically, about the climatic change from the construction of large reservoirs had great resonances until the middle of the 20th century. This article applies Environmental History basis to understand these concerns and their consequences, based on primary sources as journal´s texts and books of actors involved in the debate besides government technical reports. As revelations about theories that emerged in the 19th century, which maintained the following century, they argued and legitimized the proposals and constructions of dams, such as Gargalheiras, in Acari / RN.