Antropização em área de caatinga: expansão agrícola e alterações climáticas.

Abstract

Anthropogenic sources of heat and moisture change the surface energy balance and increase the vulnerability of natural ecossystems to extreme hydrological events. Temperatures (maximum and minimum) and air humidity are among the variables that are determinant in climatic changes. Historical series of meteorological variables are used to evaluate the effect of irrigated agriculture expansion in areas of caatinga vegetation. The results show the atmosphere to be highly sensitive to changes in vegetation cover. Variations in the temperature daily amplitude are interconnected with physical processes that occur close to the earth’s surface. Mapping of the mixing ratio based on the climatological normals and historical data of Bebedouro (PE) and Mandacaru (BA) allowed to detect the microclimate caused by the expansion of agriculture in areas of caatinga.