Improper use of pesticides can lead to significant environmental impacts, such as contamination of various environmental compartments, been the most vulnerable, the aquatic compartments. The degradation rate defines the persistence of a pesticide in the soil profile. The temperature is a factor that causes effects on the degradation rate of pesticides, changing the speed of the metabolism of microorganisms. The thermal band of LANDSAT-5 satellite is able to obtain the estimated temperature of the soil surface. This study aims to assess the employability of thermal band of LANDSAT-5 satellite and geostatistical techniques, to obtain estimates of the degradation rate of Atrazine on two different dates in the year 2010. To obtain the results was performed a geometric and atmospheric correction of the images, together with the results of vegetation index and the use of mathematical models. It can be concluded that the use of thermal band of LANDSAT-5 satellite captured by the sensor TM and geostatistical techniques have contributed greatly to obtain the estimate of the rate of atrazine degradation in the soil surface. Using non-intrusive techniques (remote) to simulate the degradation rate of a pesticide helps to consider its use in places and times of year, indicating regions suitable for your use.Pages: 4161-416
