Estimativa da cobertura vegetal e do balanço de radiação de uma bacia no semi-árido paraibano por meio de imagens do Landsat-5 TM.

Abstract

The vegetation of semi-arid areas from state of Paraiba (Brazil) has been widely changed by human uses like agricultural activities and especially the wood exploitation for energy source used by pottery, bakeries and household’s uses. The São João do Rio do Peixe basin is a small basin inside of the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil and this area has been changed by human occupation. In this context, this work aims to observe the most degraded regions of the basin, using the Landsat-5 TM satellite images and using data obtained by remote sensing and digital image processing techniques, such as vegetation index (NDVI, EVI and LAI), albedo, surface temperature and net radiation flux. Changes in vegetation cover are presented through identifying the main causes of landscape changes, the proximity to water resources and the implementation of agricultural activities.