A arborização urbana como estratégia de adaptação às mudanças climáticas: relações entre uso e ocupação do solo e temperatura urbana no município de João Pessoa ? PB, Brasil

Abstract

Climate change has intensified extreme phenomena in cities, such as heat waves, floods, and soil instability, highlighting the need for sustainable urban adaptation strategies. In this context, urban tree cover stands out as an important green infrastructure capable of promoting microclimatic regulation, improving environmental quality, and increasing urban resilience. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between land use and land cover, vegetation cover, and urban surface temperature in the municipality of João Pessoa, Paraíba State, Brazil, emphasizing the role of urban forestry as a strategy for climate change adaptation and mitigation of urban heat islands. The methodology was based on the analysis of satellite images and geospatial data processing, using indicators such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), vegetation fraction, emissivity estimation, and surface temperature calculation for the years 2004, 2014, and 2024. The results showed that areas with lower vegetation cover and higher soil impermeabilization present higher surface temperatures, indicating the formation of urban heat islands. Conversely, regions with greater vegetation density exhibited lower temperatures, confirming the role of urban trees in thermal regulation and microclimate improvement. The research also identified priority areas for expanding vegetation cover and proposed guidelines for urban tree planning and management as a climate adaptation tool. It is concluded that expanding and properly planning urban forestry is a key strategy for strengthening environmental resilience, improving quality of life, and promoting more sustainable cities.