Analysis of the Vegetation Density of the Rio Pajeú Watershed Using TM - LANDSAT 5 Data

The use of remote sensing products has become a frequent practice in research studying vegetation cover. Vegetation indices based on satellite imagery have been improving in terms of the accuracy in obtaining information about the terrestrial surface, and these techniques have made a solid contribution to the efficiency and reliability of analyses of processes involved in vegetation change. One of the most frequently used vegetation indices is the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The simplicity and high sensitivity to the magnitude of the density of vegetation cover has made it possible to monitor vegetation at local to global scales. The objective of the present work is to analyze the density of vegetation cover of the Rio Pajeú watershed, situated in the mesoregion of the interior region of the State of Pernambuco and the section of the São Francisco River within the State of Pernambuco using TM - Landsat 5 images and the SEBAL algorithm. The results show significant variation in the magnitude of the NDVI classes between 1995 and 2009, and also demonstrate that the methodology used in this study is reliable for NDVI analyses

Caracterization of a squall line amazon using radar polarimetric during the chuva project – Belém.

A linha de instabilidade (LI) Amazônica que atingiu Belém, em 08 de junho de 2008, foi monitorada e analisada por meio de medições de superfície, altitude, satélite e radar. A LI foi identificada, inicialmente, através de imagens do satélite GOES 12. O evento ocorreu durante a campanha de Belém, do Projeto CHUVA, que foi realizada durante o período de 01-30 junho de 2011, durante máxima ocorrência das linhas de instabilidades na região. Através da análise dos dados pluviométricos disponíveis percebe-se que a chuva associada à linha de instabilidade do dia 08 corresponde, aproximadamente, 29% da precipitação acumulada durante todo o experimento. A LI foi monitorada pelo radar meteorológico Banda - XPOL e permitiu a avaliação dinâmica e microfísica do sistema. Esta ultima realizada por meio da classificação de hidrometeoros com as variáveis polarimétricas. As variáveis utilizadas foram: refletividade horizontal (Zh, dBZ), refletividade diferencial (Zdr, dB), fase diferencial específica (Kdp, ° km-1), coeficiente de correlação (ρhv) e, por fim, se realizou a classificação dos hidrometeoros. O sistema apresentou fortes núcleos de refletividade que indicam a região convectiva. Esta parte da LI também é caracterizada por colunas com, relativamente, fortes Zdr e Kdp. A co-localização de colunas de Zh, Zdr e Kdp sugerem que esta é uma zona de elevada concentração de gotas de chuva com um tamanho considerável. A classificação dos hidrometeoros apresentou um resultado bem condizente com o que pode ser observado por outros pesquisadores e com as características microfísicas de outros sistemas convectivos.A squall line (SL) Amazon, which reached Belém on June 8, 2008, was monitored and analyzed by means of surface measurements, altitude, satellite and radar. The SL was identified initially through the satellite GOES 12 images. The event was during the campaign of Belém, the Chuva Project, which was held during the period 01-30 June 2011, during maximum occurrence of squall line in the region. Through the analysis of available rainfall data we can see that the rain associated with the squall line the day 08 corresponds to approximately 29% of rainfall accumulated during all the experiment. The LI was monitored by weather radar Band - X POL and allowed the dynamic evaluation and microphysics of the system. The latter performed by hydrometeors classification with variables polarimetric. The variables used were: horizontal reflectivity (Zh, dBZ), differential reflectivity (Zdr, dB), specific differential phase (Kdp, ° km -1), correlation coefficient (ρhv) and, finally, was held the classification of hydrometeors. The system showed strong core of reflectivity indicating the convective region. This part of LI is also characterized by columns relatively strong Zdr and Kdp. The co-location columns Zh, Zdr and Kdp suggest that this is an area of high concentration of raindrops with a considerable size. The classification of hydrometeors presented the result well consistent with which can be observed by other researchers and the microphysical characteristics of other convective systems.Cape