干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The interaction of sustainable actions to integrate social, environmental and economical programs to quantify and qualify the degrees of degradation is of vital importance in areas of risk of desertification. This research presents the application of biophysical parameters and erosion potential to evaluate environmental degradation processes and to identify areas at risk of desertification. The paper presents a general approach that can be used in other areas with similar biophysical characteristics. The model was based on the following parameters: albedo, emissivity, temperature, NDVI, soil heat flux, soil erosivity, soil erodibility and LS (slope length and slope or topographic factor). The model was implemented by using the LEGAL programming language available in the SPRING 4.0 Geographical Information System software package. Multitemporal images of TM sensor from the dry season were used to model and to apply the algorithm for mapping and evaluating the degradation evolution in the study area. The results showed an increasing in the degree of degradation (caatinga vegetation removal, followed by soil erosion), demonstrating the potential of the model to assess desertification risks.