Bernardo Barbosa da Silva

Estimation of soil moisture in the root-zone from remote sensing data

Field-based soil moisture measurements are cumbersome. Thus, remote sensing techniques are needed because allows field and landscape-scale mapping of soil moisture depth-averaged through the root zone of existing vegetation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of an empirical relationship to calculate soil moisture from remote sensing data of irrigated soils of the Apodi Plateau, in the Brazilian semiarid region. The empirical relationship had previously been tested for irrigated soils in Mexico, Egypt, and Pakistan, with promising results. In this study, the relationship was evaluated from experimental data collected from a cotton field. The experiment was carried out in an area of 5 ha with irrigated cotton. The energy balance and evaporative fraction (Λ) were measured by the Bowen ratio method. Soil moisture (θ) data were collected using a PR2 - Profile Probe (Delta-T Devices Ltd). The empirical relationship was tested using experimentally collected Λ and θ values and was applied using the Λ values obtained from the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) and three TM - Landsat 5 images. There was a close correlation between measured and estimated θ values (p<0.05, R2 = 0.84) and there were no significant differences according to the Student t-test (p<0.01). The statistical analyses showed that the empirical relationship can be applied to estimate the root-zone soil moisture of irrigated soils, i.e. when the evaporative fraction is greater than 0.45.

Análise quantitativa de parâmetros biofísicos de bacia hidrográfica obtidos por sensoriamento remoto

The objective of this work was to quantitatively evaluate the biophysical parameters, obtained by remote sensing, for the range area of the Tapacura River Basin, in Pernambuco state, Brazil. Landsat 5‑TM images of 7/10/1989, 7/6/2005, and 8/29/2007 were used. The images were registered with a polynomial geometric correction of first order. Radiometric calibration, reflectance, transmittance and planetary albedo were calculated and, subsequently, thematic maps of surface albedo, surface temperature and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) were generated. The surface albedo showed increasing average values between the 1989 and 2005 images, which indicates the urban territorial expansion. The image of 8/29/2007 showed the highest land surface temperature, followed by the temperatures showed in the images of 7/10/1989 and 7/6/2005, and the highest values were those of the urban networks. The 1989 image showed the highest average value for EVI, which indicates that there was a higher vegetation presence in that date.

Evapotranspiração e estimativa da água consumida em perímetro irrigado do Semiárido brasileiro por sensoriamento remoto

The objective of this work was to map the actual evapotranspiration (ETr) and to determine the volume of water used in the irrigation project of Sao Goncalo, PB, in the Brazilian Semiarid Region, using remote sensing. TM/Landsat 5 images were acquired from the study area, in 2008, and were used to obtain thematic maps of daily ETr. Two dwarf coconut crops were selected for validation of the results of evapotranspiration obtained by the surface energy balance algorithm for land (ETSebal) and the FAO‑56 method (ETFAO). In order to determine ETFAO, the product between the culture coefficient, the adjustment coefficient, and the reference evapotranspiration was used. The differences obtained by the two techniques resulted in root mean square error, mean relative error, and mean absolute error equal to 0.53 mm, 9.46%, and 0.43 mm, respectively. In the irrigated areas, ETr represented about 85% of net radiation and, in rainfed plots, only 12.5%. The mapping of ETr clearly delimitated the irrigated and nonirrigated plots, as well as the differences within the irrigated perimeter of the project under investigation. The volume of water applied in the irrigation project, only in the period from July to December, represents more than 60% of the capacity of the Sao Goncalo reservoir.

Evapotranspiração de referência baseada em métodos empíricos em bacia experimental no estado de Pernambuco - Brasil

The study of evapotranspiration is important for agricultural planning, especially in regions characterized by high spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, as in arid and semiarid regions of northeastern Brazil. Although in Brazil there are two large meteorological observation networks (INMET and CPTEC), there are still many uncovered areas, suggesting the need for methods of calculating evapotranspiration based on few meteorological elements. Considering this need, this study aimed to determine the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) by indirect methods in various time scales in the experimental watershed of the creek Gameleira, Vitoria de Santo Antao, PE. Indirect methods have been evaluated considering the Penman-Monteith FAO-56 as the standard method. Among the methods based on air temperature, the Hargreaves-Samani (1985) presented an optimal performance at pentadal to monthly scales, followed by the Blaney-Criddle with performance very good. The Campbell, Thornthwaite and the modified Thornthwaite methods showed variations of performance from bad to very good. Among the solar radiation based methods, the best performance was the solar radiation method, followed by Makkink and Jensen-Haise. The methods based on statistical modeling did not estimate ETo with good accuracy, resulting in low determination and performance coefficients values.

Surface energy exchange and evapotranspiration from cotton crop under full irrigation conditions in the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazilian Semi-Arid

The main objectives of this study were documenting how energy balance partitioning and ET vary seasonally along each growth season of cotton crop under full irrigation conditions in the Brazilian semiarid. The studied area was located in the Apodi Plateau, which is located on west of Rio Grande do Norte state and is an area with extensive agricultural suitability and semiarid climate. Micrometeorological measurements were taken during cotton growth season on dry seasons of 2008 and 2009 years in a cotton crop field of about 5 ha, and the energy balance components were derived from Bowen Ratio Energy Balance (BREB) method. The obtained results revealed important role of the vegetative growth of cotton crop in the energy balance partitioning. The values of LE/Rn ranged from 58% (Initial growth season) to 81% (Middle-growth season) in 2008 and from 63% (Initial) to 81% (Middle season) in 2009. These variations is in accordance to LAI variations, which ranged from 0.14 cm2 cm–2 (Initial growth season in 2008) and 0.18 cm2 cm–2 (Initial growth season in 2009) to about 5.0 cm2 cm–2 (middle season). On the other hand, H/Rn and G/Rn varied inversely with the LAI variations. The concordance between LE/Rn and LAI is evidenced by similarity between curves of ET and LAI and between curves of Kc and LAI, especially when LAI reaches values greater than 3.0.

Estimativa do balanço de energia utilizando imagens TM - Landsat 5 e o algoritmo SEBAL no litoral sul de Pernambuco

The energy exchange across soil vegetation-atmosphere interface through the net radiation components (Rn) the soil heat flux (G), sensible heat flux (H) and latent heat flux (LE) are of vital importance for the climatic and hydrologic modeling, which affects all biosphere. The main objectives of this research are: (1) to estimate and compare the several energy balance components behavior, using SEBAL algorithm, under different soil usages; and (2) to validate SEBAL algorithm. In order to make the analysis, three TM - Landsat 5 images, from orbit and point 214/066, of August 26th 2006, September 6th 2010 and January 28th 2011, covering the South Coast of Pernambuco State (Brazil) were used. The results showed the ability of SEBAL to estimate the spatial variability of the different components of energy balance, with the ability to distinguish different soil occupations. The calculation of the energy balance components allows to figure the different forms of energy usages by different soil coverage and to find those that provide better thermal comfort. Estimates of evapotranspiration obtained by the algorithm SEBAL showed a good agreement with the results obtained by the FAO-Penman-Monteith, thus demonstrating the potential of this methodological approach.

Estimation of soil heat flux in a neotropical Wetland region using remote sensing techniques

The direct estimation of the soil heat flux (G) by remote sensing data is not possible. For this, several models have been proposed empirically from the relation of G measures and biophysical parameters of various types of coverage or not vegetated in different places on earth. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between G/Rn ratio and biophysical variables obtained by satellite sensors and evaluate the parameterization of different models to estimate G spatially in three sites with different soil cover types. The net radiation (Rn) and G were measured directly in two pastures at Miranda Farm and Experimental Farm and and Monodominant Forest of Cambara. Rn, G, and G/Rn ratio and MODIS products, such as albedo (α), surface temperature (LST), vegetation index (NDVI) and leaf area index (LAI) varied seasonally at all sites and inter-sites. The sites were different from each other by presenting different relation between measures of Rn, G and G/Rn ratio and biophysical parameters. Among the original models, the model proposed by Bastiaanssen (1995) showed the best performance with r = 0.76, d = 0.95, MAE = 5.70 W m-2 and RMSE = 33.68 W m-2. As the reparameterized models, correlation coefficients had no significant change, but the coefficient Willmott (d) increased and the MAE and RMSE had a small decrease.

Determinação por sensoriamento remoto da produtividade primária bruta do perímetro irrigado São Gonçalo - PB

ABSTRACT: ASSESSMENT OF GROSS PRIMARY PRODUCTION - GPP IN THE IRRIGATED PERIMETER SAO GONCALO - PB USING REMOTE SENSINGThe Gross Primary Production (GPP) assessment and monitoring by remote sensing is of crucial importance in the climate changes studies given its direct connection to the effectively extracted carbon from the atmosphere by numerous earth ecosystems. The present work aims to assess the GPP in a Brazilian semi-arid irrigated area, using TM – Landsat 5 images and complementary surface meteorological data. Cloudless TM images were acquired from the year 2008 and were used to obtain daily GPP for five selected days. This model expresses GPP as a function of the absorbed photosynthetic active radiation and the efficiency of light use by vegetation. A comparison is made between the obtained results with TM images and GPP from MOD17A2. The difference between GPP values obtained by the two techniques resulted in an Average Absolute Difference - AAD of 0.91 g C m -2 dia -1 , an Average Percentage Difference - APD of 11.82% and Root Square Mean Difference - RSMD of 1.12 g C m

DESEMPENHO DE METODOLOGIAS PARA ESTIMATIVA DO SALDO DE RADIAÇÃO A PARTIR DE IMAGENS MODIS

The present study intends to evaluate the performance of different methodologies used in estimating the instantaneous net radiation (Rn), which is the main energy source to various natural processes occurring on the surface of our planet. The study area belongs to the Mogi Guacu River Basin. The surface data used for the Rn calibration and validation are from two micrometeorological towers located in areas of cerrado and sugarcane. MODIS sensor images and the SEBAL, METRIC and Bisht et al. methodologies were compared. Rn in the cerrado area always showed higher values than that of sugarcane, indicating that, in those wild areas, there is therefore a greater amount of energy to transform into latent and sensible heat fluxes. The employed methodologies were quite satisfactory, with a best performance of the METRIC methodology. The fact that the methodology Bisht et al. does not require surface data appears to be quite useful, since in the absence of surface measurements it has been a frequent and no-cost option for the user to make estimates of net radiation.

Influence of urbanization on land surface temperature in Recife city

Urbanization has caused significant environmental impacts, replacing natural surfaces by buildings, decreasing green vegetated areas, soil sealing and atmospheric pollution which contribute to increase the land surface temperature in such areas. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the influence of urbanization on land surface temperature (Ts) in Recife city - Pernambuco (PE), in Brazil, using the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor images from Landsat 5 satellite. To perform the study, images of August 4, 1998 and September 6, 2010 were obtained and processed to generate Ts thematic maps of Recife-PE and of two districts of this city (Curado and Casa Amarela), in order to analyze the transformation dynamics that has occurred in the area. Through the profile produced for the study area, a spatial and temporal increase of the Ts surface was noticeable in the suburb-downtown direction: 6°C of difference between these areas. The Casa Amarela district, with high urban concentration, presented the highest Ts values observed (>27°C).