Temporal Variability of Land Cover in Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte States

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial-temporal variation of NDVI, the temperature of the earth's surface (TST) and rainfall (PCP) in the degraded Caatinga (DC) and recovery (CR) regions in the State of Paraíba, and preserved (CP) in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. MODIS /Terra sensor remote sensing (SR) techniques were applied using non-parametric and trend tests. In the CD and CR areas, the rainy season is included in autumn-winter, representing more than 70% of the annual total. The CP presents two patterns of use of the PCP, the first associated in the summer, and the accumulated ones represent 33,4% of the annual total, and the second number of autumn represented 52,8%. The highest average monthly NDVI values are present in the CR. The CD showed the highest TST values. The greatest negative correlations between TST and PCP and between TST and NDVI were found in CR (-0,73) and CP (-0,86), respectively. A positive relationship between NDVI and PCP was selected in all environments, with an emphasis on a PC (0,84). The results found, evidence that SR products from the MODIS sensor are important for understanding anthropogenic and climatic impacts on Caatinga vegetation.