Remote sensing applied in the vegetation cover analysis in the municipality of Taperoá – Paraíba

Abstract

The objective of this work was to identify and analyze the different vegetation cover classes in the municipality of Taperoá -Paraíba for the years 1990 and 2015. The images used were acquired in the INPE (National Institute of Space Research) catalog. The image selection criterion was based mainly on the number and distribution of clouds in the study area, TM images (Thematic Mapper) Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) were selected with the release date of March 3, 1990 and May 6, 2015. The system used for the processing of georeferenced information was SPRING. It was possible to analyze that between 1990 and 2015 there was a reduction of areas covered by dense, sparse semi-dense, sparse + exposed soil and exposed soil; while areas of semi-dense and sparse vegetation showed a progressive increase. Population reports show that in 10 years the lack of rainfall intensified, causing greater exploration of activities such as extensive livestock farming and the exploration of previously abandoned areas. In the area studied, it was observed laminar erosion, with the presence of ravines, furrows and gullies; cattle and goat livestock activity; deforestation for pasture installation; variable population density in the different geographic limits, as well as the implementation of civil construction.