Analysis of Carbon Sequestration in Caatinga Areas of Pernambucano Semiarid

Abstract Given the increasing emissions of greenhouse gases, the present study analyzed the carbon sequestration in savanna areas of the city of Petrolina - PE, via remote sensing techniques. Images from the MODIS sensor, for the product MOD17, which contains an estimated gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP). The collection of images was for the years 2011 and 2012. During the rainy season, the preserved savanna areas had higher overall assimilation of values (up to 160 g C/m in January 2011) and carbon sequestration, however the dry season stood out areas of irrigated agriculture. As the annual total in 2011 the areas of savanna preserved along with irrigated agriculture had the highest GPP values (> 900 g C/m2), while in 2012 the GPP of savanna areas ranged generally from 500 to 600 g C/m2, with some areas reaching 700 g C/m2. The NPP, ie carbon sequestration, ranged 500-600 g C/m2 in 2011 and 400 g C/m2 in 2012. Thus, measures are needed and development of policy instruments aimed at the conservation of remaining to scrub the city of Petrolina, in order to contribute to mitigating global warming.