Publications

da Silva, JLB; Moura, GBD; da Silva, MV; Oliveira-J?nior, JFD; Jardim, AMDF; Refati, DC; Lima, RDC; de Carvalho, AA; Ferreira, MB; de Brito, JIB; Guedes, RVD; Lopes, PMO; N?brega, RS; Pandorfi, H; Bezerra, AC; Batista, PHD; de Jesus, FLF; Sanches, AC; Santos, RC (2023). Environmental degradation of vegetation cover and water bodies in the semiarid region of the Brazilian Northeast via cloud geoprocessing techniques applied to orbital data. JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES, 121, 104164.

Abstract
The spatiotemporal diagnosis of climate variability and environmental changes in arid and semiarid regions is essential to minimize pressures and impacts on natural ecosystems. Remote sensing techniques and satellite images allow the detection of such changes. The study evaluated spatio-temporally the processes of environmental degradation of vegetation cover and water resources via physical-hydric parameters at the surface using remote sensing techniques for the Northeast of Brazil (NEB). Geospatial data from TRMM and MODIS satellites/ sensors, digital cloud processing of vegetation indices (NDVI), water (NDWI and MNDWI), and rainfall were performed for the period 2000 to 2019. The patterns identified in the study were evaluated by multivariate statistics and correlation. The NDVI showed the significant vulnerability of vegetation cover in the Northeastern Semiarid region, due to the intensification of droughts. The spectral behavior of NDVI is due to rainfall, confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation. The NDWI and MNDWI detected the pattern of water availability in the semiarid region, with a critical reduction in water bodies. In the space-time analysis, the physical-hydric parameters showed a significant water deficit, followed by severe drought and prolonged drought. MNDWI was efficient and sensitive to open water content, especially in areas covered by water bodies concerning NDWI, and correlated with rainfall. The variability of rainfall directly impacted the dynamics and resilience of vegetation and water bodies in the Northeastern Semiarid region. The critical reduction of areas of water bodies, the increase of non-vegetated areas, and the pressures of anthropic activities are favored.

DOI:
10.1016/j.jsames.2022.104164

ISSN:
1873-0647