Análise espaço-temporal da atividade de fogo nos biomas terrestres do Nordeste brasileiro

Abstract

Fire is an essential element for the conservation and diversity of many ecosystems. However, human activities that use fire have caused changes in the frequency and severity of vegetation fires, affecting even ecosystems not adapted to fire. The terrestrial biomes of Northeastern Brazil are vulnerable to fire, presenting different degrees of dependence and resistance to it. This study aims to compare the detection of burned areas by the MCD64A1 and MapBiomas products, and the MOD14A2 and MYD14A2 hotspot detection products, from the MODIS instruments onboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites. The products were evaluated in different biomes of Northeastern Brazil to identify patterns, trends, and determinants of fire events. The burned area data from the MCD64A1 and MapBiomas products were obtained for the period 2001 to 2022, and the hotspot data from the MOD14A2 and MYD14A2 products from 2003 to 2022. The analysis of these products was performed using descriptive and multivariate methods. The results reveal that the MCD64A1 and MapBiomas products, although presenting variations in the amount of burned area detected, have some similarities between biomes, such as Caatinga and Cerrado. In addition, the MOD14A2 and MYD14A2 products provided a consistent detection of hotspots throughout the studied period. Each biome presented particularities in fire activity patterns, correlated mainly with climate factors, such as the occurrence of El Niño and La Niña events associated with human activities, such as deforestation and the use of fire to clear pastures. In addition, other factors influence the accuracy of satellite detection of burned areas, such as vegetation, the extent of the fires, and the type and quantity of fuel. The analyzed products proved to be valuable tools for monitoring burned areas and hotspots in the biomes of Northeastern Brazil, and given the variability in detections observed between the different products, more in-depth studies are needed to understand how these products behave in each biome, considering the particularities of each one.