Análise temporal da cobertura vegetal e condições microclimáticas no alto curso do Rio Paraíba

Abstract

The Caatinga is a biome that exists only in Brazil, characterized by its low rainfall and high temperatures, which directly influence the biodiversity and ecological balance of the region. This study was conducted in the Upper Course of the Paraíba River, located in the Cariri Paraibano, a region that has the lowest average rainfall in the country and a great diversity of semi-arid ecosystems. The research aimed to investigate how vegetation cover influences local climatic variables, especially soil temperature, and to understand how these changes affect ecological processes and the availability of natural resources. The applied methodology involved the use of climate data collected at 9 meteorological stations installed in the region between 2017 and 2023. Additionally, an analysis of vegetation cover was performed using Sentinel-2 satellite images and the Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), in order to relate vegetation variation with changes in soil temperatures. The results obtained highlight the fundamental role of vegetation in regulating the microclimate and controlling soil temperature. Vegetation acts as a natural thermal regulator, attenuating temperature variations and, consequently, providing more stable conditions for ecological processes.