Spatial analysis of vegetal cover and sediment yield in Tapacurá river catchment based on remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

Spatial analysis of vegetal cover and sediment yield in Tapacurá river catchment based on remote sensing and GIS Mapping and assessment of erosion risk is an important tool for planning of natural resources management, allowing researchers to propose modification in land-use properly and implement more sustainable management strategies in the long-term. The Tapacurá river catchment, located in Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, is one of the planning units for management of water resources of Recife Metropilitan Region (RMR), and it is divided into 12 sub-basins. The objective of this study is to evaluate the spatial variability of vegetal cover and sediment yield in this basin through remote sensing and GIS techniques. Maps of the erosivity (R), erodibility (K), topographic (LS), cover-management (C) and support practice (P) factors were derived from the digital elevation model (DEM), climate database, and soil and NDVI maps, taking into account information available in the literature. In order to validate the simulation process, Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) was estimated. The obtained NDVI map showed vegetation loss during the analyzed period, indicating a distinct contrast between loss and gains of vegetation index. The vegetation and sediment yield mapping showed to be a useful tool for environmental monitoring and management, which can provide satisfactory results when jointly used. The results suggest a mean SDR around 0.9 and estimate the sediment yield as 23.98 ton/ha/month.