ABSTRACT
The objective is to evaluate the fire foci dynamics via environmental satellites and their relationship with socioenvironmental factors and meteorological systems in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Data considered the period between 2000 and 2017 and was obtained from CPTEC/INPE. Annual and monthly analyzes were performed based on descriptive, exploratory (boxplot) and multivariate statistics analyzes (cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA)) and Poisson regression models (based on 2000 and 2010 census data). CA based on the Ward method identified five fire foci homogeneous groups (G1 to G5), while Coruripe did not classify within any group (NA); therefore, the CA technique was consistent (CCC = 0.772). Group G1 is found in all regions of Alagoas, while G2, G5, and NA groups are found in Baixo São Francisco, Litoral, and Zona da Mata regions. Most fire foci were observed in the Litoral region. Seasonally, the largest records were from October to December months for all groups, influenced by the sugarcane harvesting period. The G4 group and Coruripe accounted for 60,767 foci (32.1%). The highest number of fire foci occurred in 2012 and 2015 (between 8000 and 9000 foci), caused by the action of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. The Poisson regression showed that the dynamics of fire foci are directly associated with the Gini index and Human Development Index (models 1 and 3). Based on the PCA, the three components captured 78.8% of the total variance explained, and they were strongly influenced by the variables: population, GDP, and demographic density. The municipality of Maceió has the largest contribution from the fire foci, with values higher than 40%, and in PC1 and PC2 are related to urban densification and population growth.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring , Fires , Brazil , Cities , El Nino-Southern Oscillation , HumansABSTRACT
The Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista (MRBS) harbors one of the main port areas of Brazil: the Port of Santos. Due to the accelerated urban development in this region, the monitoring of biophysical parameters is fundamental. Therefore, this paper aims to i) estimate the soil surface temperature (Ts) and identify the Urban Heat Islands (UHI) formation; and ii) compare the Ts and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for MRBS from 1986 to 2016 using Landsat 5 and 8 images. Remote sensing tools are essential to meet the objectives of this work for providing both the spatial and temporal evaluation of a region. The spatial analysis was based on the NDVI to evaluate the vegetation density and size from five previously established classes (i.e., water bodies, urban grid, exposed soil and road corridors, shrub, and dense vegetation). The NDVI mapping showed a significant reduction in the cover area referred to the dense vegetation class (91.7%), while the urban grid category increased by 29.4%, resulting from the urban expansion and green cover reduction over the region during this period. Surface temperature thematic maps showed high-temperature values related to increased urbanization and decreased rainfall. Moreover, an 8°C rise in surface temperature over the last 30 years was registered due to the regional development, which has replaced natural soils by anthropic materials and reduced dense vegetation. This phenomenon has resulted in the formation and intensification of UHI, especially after the 2000s.
A Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista (RMBS) abriga uma das principais zonas portuárias do Brasil, o Porto de Santos. Devido ao grau de urbanização dessa região, o monitoramento dos parâmetros biofísicos torna-se fundamental. Desta forma, este estudo tem como objetivo i) estimar a Temperatura de superfície terrestre (Ts) da RMBS, seguido da identificação da formação de ICU e ii) relacionar a Ts e o NDVI da RMBS no período de 1986 a 2016, a partir das imagens do Landsat 5 e 8. A análise espacial foi baseada no Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), no sentido de verificar as condições da densidade e porte da vegetação a partir de cinco classes previamente estabelecidas (Corpo d'água, Malha urbana, Solo exposto e corredores viários, Substrato Arbustivo e Vegetação densa). Os mapas de NDVI indicam uma redução significativa na área de cobertura correspondente à classe vegetação densa, com o valor de cobertura de 91,7%. Por outro lado, a classe Malha urbana apresentou um aumento de 29,4%, resultantes da expansão urbana e da redução da cobertura verde na RMBS ao longo do período. Os mapas temáticos de Tsmostraram altos valores de temperatura, relacionados ao aumento da malha urbana e redução da precipitação. Além disso, houve um aumento de 8ºC na Ts nos últimos 30 anos, causados pelo avanço do desenvolvimento regional, associados à substituição do solo natural por materiais antrópicos e à redução da vegetação densa. Esses fatores resultaram no surgimento de ICU e sua intensificação a partir dos anos 2000.
