Abstract
The change in the use of natural vegetation by annual or perennial crops, sugarcane and fast-growing forests causes changes in the biophysical variables, and these changes can be monitored by remote sensing. The objective of this work was to evaluate, on a temporal scale, the impacts of land use changes on biophysical variables in the county of Santa Helena de Goias-Goias/Brazil. Between the years of 2000 to 2015 areas were identified for agricultural crops 1 (annual crops), water, agricultural crops 2 (sugarcane), natural vegetation, pasture and urban areas. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Spectroradiometer) sensor products were selected for study: MOD11A2-Surface temperature; MOD16A2-Real evapotranspiration, MOD13Q1-Enhanced Vegetation Index and rainfall data from TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission). The geographic coordinates referring to the land uses were inserted in the LAPIG platform, searching the information of the biophysical variables referring to the selected pixel. The impact of land use change was evaluated by calculating the weighted average through the quantitative classification of the areas. It is concluded for the period of study that the index of average vegetation of the county had increase. There was an increase in the evapotranspiration volume of the county from 28% from 2000 to 2013 and the average surface temperature of the county showed a reduction of 2 °C in the period from 2000 to 2015.
Highlights
The Brazilian territory consists of approximately 22% of the Cerrado Biome
Risso et al (2012) suggests vegetation index as a variable that allows understanding the change of land use and occupation, as it varies according to the spectral response of the surface, being sensitive to the alteration of the soil use
The geographic coordinates referring to the land uses in the LAPIG platform were inserted, where the filtering takes place of the images referring to the past of the satellite, providing the information of the biophysical variables referring to the selected pixel
Summary
Agricultural expansion has increased disorderly occupation of this biome, and mitigating native flora and limiting natural resources and biodiversity (Caldas et al, 2009). The Southwest Goiano is a region inserted at Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) which is characterized by having good soil to agriculture and livestock (fertility, depth and flat relief) (Franco, 2014; Ferreira, 2009). Rodrigues et al (2009), and Paranhos-Filho et al (2014) point out that biomes, when they are decharacterised by anthropic actions, either by suppressing native vegetation or due to incorrect management, suffer impacts on the sustainability of the ecosystem, which may lead to changes in the microclimate of the region. Changes in soil use by agroecosystems, such as; annual or perennial crops, pastures, and fast-growing forests, cause changes in the physical properties of the soil surface and in the regional biophysical constitution, such as; in evapotranspiration, surface albedo, vegetation indices, surface temperature, radiation balance, soil and latent heat fluxes, among others, which serve as indicators of changes in the climate patterns of a region (Cunha et al, 2012; Loarie et al, 2011). Risso et al (2012) suggests vegetation index as a variable that allows understanding the change of land use and occupation, as it varies according to the spectral response of the surface, being sensitive to the alteration of the soil use
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