Maria do Carmo Sobral

Re-oligotrophication as a challenge for tropical reservoir management with reference to Itaparica Reservoir, São Francisco, Brazil

The process of reservoir eutrophication has been recognised as a central problem in tropical reservoir environmental quality. Effects of eutrophication are complex interactions involving a decrease in water quality, especially loss of aquatic biodiversity, occurrence of undesired species such as cyanobacteria with its cyanotoxins, mass development of macrophytes such as Egeria densa with its mechanical impact on turbines, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly of methane. The eutrophication process can be described by the OECD critical load concept or related models. The phosphorus use efficiency is given by the Chl a-P - relationship, indicating eutrophic conditions by only 10 μg L(-1) P in Itaparica Reservoir, Brazil. Eutrophication of the reservoir is quantified for internal phosphorus sources (inflow, mineralisation of inundated soils and vegetation, net cage aquaculture) and external ones (agriculture, emissions of natural caatinga vegetation and rural communities) The actual internal P load is calculated to be 0.40 g m(-2) a(-1), and the critical P load is given with 1.20 g m(-2) a(-1). The external P load amounts about 1.16 g m(-2) a(-1) and thus exceeds the critical export rate of 7.1 kg km(-2) a(-1) by 50%, thus a bundling of measurements has to be considered when attempting to promote re-oligotrophication.

Biophysical parameters in the detection of changes in soil cover and use in watersheds.

O estudo de parâmetros biofisicos como o Indice de Vegetacao da Diferenca Normalizada (NDVI), albedo e temperatura da superficie (LST), aplicado a ecossistemas, tem sido relevante para o entendimento de mudancas relacionadas a degradacao do meio ambiente. Algumas alteracoes que provocam desequilibrio de interacoes ecologicas em ecossistemas, como o desmatamento, a mineracao, a agricultura inadequada e o superpastejo, entre outros, estao interrelacionadas. Para avaliacao de mudancas temporais relacionadas a degradacao do ecossistema caatinga obtiveram-se as imagens da diferenca de tres parâmetros: NDVI, albedo e temperatura da superficie, para os anos de 1985 e 2001 (estacao seca), utilizando-se imagens TM. Este estudo foi aplicado a bacia do rio Brigida onde ha uma exploracao intensa dos recursos naturais, em que os resultados mostram aumento na temperatura da superficie, diminuicao do NDVI e pouca variacao no albedo da superficie evidenciando, assim, que entre os anos de 1985 e 2001 houve avanco na degradacao dos recursos naturais, nesta bacia.

Environmental indicators for sustainability: a strategic analysis for the sugarcane ethanol context in Brazil

Sugarcane ethanol is considered a renewable energy source and has emerged as a potential alternative to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, particularly in Brazil. However, there are some questions about how sustainable this energy source is, given the impacts from its production and use on a larger scale. To understand and achieve sustainability, it is essential to build tools that can assess an integrated conception and help decision-makers to establish public policies for a sustainable development. The indicators appear as such tools by capturing the complexity without reducing the significance of each systems component. The environmental indicators such as water quality indicator represent the level of water pollution, considering several parameters. The importance of the development, selection and validation of environmental indicators through a structured and cohesive process becomes essential. In the State of São Paulo, in Brazil, the environmental indicators, as well as policies based on them, are defined by the Environmental Secretariat (SMA/SP). This article presents an environmental indicators evaluation method and reports based on the discussions about sustainability for the ethanol sugarcane context in the State of São Paulo. The method consists of interviews and an experts workshop which pointed out a set of benchmarks for the evaluation of environmental indicators. The procedures were applied to an indicator used by the SMA/SP to illustrate the methods effectiveness. The results show that a strategic analysis framework can improve the environmental indicators required for the discussion on sustainability, providing a better guide to decision-makers.

Balancing ecosystem services and societal demands in a highly managed watershed: setup and progress of a comprehensive research project

Corresponding address: Marianna Siegmund-Schultze Technische Universität Berlin – Secr. EB 5 – Straße des 17. Juni 145 – 10623 Berlin – Germany – E-mail: m.siegmund-schultze@tu-berlin.de ABSTRACT The INNOVATE project, a comprehensive Brazilian-German research collaboration, addresses sustainable land management in the São Francisco watershed and its Itaparica reservoir. The project studies management options, which promote sustainable ecosystem services and economic viability in climate change conditions. At basin scale, questions of water quantity and quality prevail, including resource allocation and governance. Local and regional studies investigate natural land processes and water resources in addition to their management post dam construction. Consortium researchers are confronted with a multitude of expectations, ranging from knowledge production to interacting with stakeholders and scientists of different disciplines and cultures. As an overview, we predicted potential changes of studied ecosystem services under different conditions within possible scenarios. Further integration of results is ongoing, as is the conversion of scientific results into guidance for stakeholders.

Modelling of point and diffuse pollution: application of the Moneris model in the Ipojuca river basin, Pernambuco State, Brazil

Emissions of pollutants and nutrients are causing several problems in aquatic ecosystems, and in general an excess of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, is responsible for the eutrophication process in water bodies. In most developed countries, more attention is given to diffuse pollution because problems with point pollution have already been solved. In many non-developed countries basic data for point and diffuse pollution are not available. The focus of the presented studies is to quantify nutrient emissions from point and diffuse sources in the Ipojuca river basin, Pernambuco State, Brazil, using the Moneris model (Modelling Nutrient Emissions in River Systems). This model has been developed in Germany and has already been implemented in more than 600 river basins. The model is mainly based on river flow, water quality and geographical information system data. According to the Moneris model results, untreated domestic sewage is the major source of nutrients in the Ipojuca river basin. The Moneris model has shown itself to be a useful tool that allows the identification and quantification of point and diffuse nutrient sources, thus enabling the adoption of measures to reduce them. The Moneris model, conducted for the first time in a tropical river basin with intermittent flow, can be used as a reference for implementation in other watersheds.

Análise de Detecção de Variabilidades Climáticas com Base na Precipitação nas Bacias Hidrográficas do Sertão de Pernambuco (Analysis of Climate Variability Detection Based on Watershed Precipitation in the Sertão of Pernambuco)

Os padroes climaticos estao mudando em todo planeta e preve-se, como impacto das mudancas climaticas, a alteracao na frequencia da precipitacao e secas mais intensas e prolongadas, particularmente em areas aridas e semiaridas. Desta forma, estudar a vulnerabilidade e os impactos da potencial modificacao climatica sobre os recursos hidricos no Nordeste do Brasil e um assunto estrategico para o pais, a fim de planejar medidas mitigadoras em associacao com as acoes existentes de gerenciamento dos recursos hidricos. Nesse contexto, o presente artigo aborda a questao das tendencias de mudancas climaticas no semiarido nordestino, sertao de Pernambuco, com recorte espacial das bacias dos rios Brigida e Pajeu. Foram analisadas series historicas de precipitacao pluviometrica de 19 postos, espacialmente distribuidos na area das bacias, no periodo de 1964 a 2004. . O software utilizado para o processamento e controle de qualidade dos dados foi o RClimdex (2.11.1). Os resultados mostraram mudanca no padrao de precipitacao sobre as bacias em estudo, que evidenciaram a diminuicao da precipitacao total anual e aumento dos dias secos consecutivos, colaborando, dessa forma, para a escassez hidrica e impactos na agricultura local. Palavras-chave: Precipitacao pluviometrica, RClimdex, bacia hidrografica, agricultura. Analysis of Climate Variability Detection Based on Watershed Precipitation in the Sertao of Pernambuco ABSTRACT The weather patterns are changing all over the planet and it is expected, as the impact of climate change, the change in frequency of precipitation and more intense and prolonged drought, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Thus, to study the vulnerability and the potential impacts of climate change on water resources in northeastern Brazil is a strategic issue for the country, to plan potential mitigation measures in combination with the existing shares management of water resources. In this context, this paper addresses the issue of climate change trends in the semiarid northeast, interior of Pernambuco, with spatial area of river basins and Bridget Pajeu. We analyzed time series of rainfall of 19 stations spatially distributed in the basin in the period 1964 to 2004. . The software used for processing and quality control data was RClimdex (2.11.1). The results showed changes in the pattern of precipitation over the basins under study, which demonstrated a decrease in annual rainfall and an increase of consecutive dry days, contributing thus to the water scarcity and impacts on local agriculture. Keywords: Rainfall, RClimdex, hidrographic basin, agriculture.

Espacialização da umidade do solo por meio da temperatura da superfície e índice de vegetação

The study of soil moisture is important in determining the resilience of ecosystems and their recovery, as well as in the modeling of water-vegetation-atmosphere relationship. Remote sensing is an important tool for the acquisition, mapping and monitoring soil moisture through the surface temperature and vegetation indices. For the soil moisture content assessment, several methods have been proposed, however its application is still limited. In this work the soil moisture index (SMI) was applied and modeled with the objectives: to establish and delineate areas with different levels of desertification through SMI mapping and to map the dynamic of border, as well as to verify possible relationships betweem SMI and soil water parameters. In the application of this model as input data was used: NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and LST (land surface temperature). It was observed that SMI accessed by the average of the SMI derived by NDVI and LST can be used in the determination of soil surface degradation and in the production of maps showing different levels of this degradation. It was also verified, that there was no direct relationship between SMI and physical parameters of soil moisture content. Remote sensing showed to be an important tool in the evaluation of soil moisture indices in degraded areas and to delineate the border effect in this desertification nucleus.

Groundwater management in Recife

In developing countries, the rapid urbanization in the second half of the twentieth century provoked radical changes in the cities with serious water related problems, such as freshwater scarcity, sewage and drainage problems. This growth produced several impacts on groundwater resources such as land impermeabilization and change in groundwater recharge, excessive exploitation and groundwater pollution. These facts have demanded better planning and management, especially in areas with high dense population. In Brazil, water legislation has been approved by parliament, a water agency has been created and technical knowledge of water resources has improved. Management strategies incorporated several issues: planning, legislation, zoning, licensing, concession and controlling. Monitoring, hydrochemical analyses and groundwater modeling have been performed to obtain more information for better management towards sustainability.

Unraveling the water and land nexus through inter- and transdisciplinary research: sustainable land management in a semi-arid watershed in Brazil’s Northeast

For decades, large reservoirs have been built for hydropower plants in Brazil’s São Francisco River Basin. Rural development has been a simultaneous goal with a primary focus on irrigation. Irrigated agriculture, however, has suffered from poor soils, insufficient water management strategies, and a disregard for integrating grazing-based smallholdings outside of the irrigation schemes. Recurrent droughts are distressing all sectors. This synthesis assessed sustainable land management options by investigating the aquatic and terrestrial land use systems alongside their underlying ecosystem functions and services. Decisions about the allocation of scarce water proved to be both the major issue of land use discourses and driver of practices. The primarily hydroelectricity-focused water management practice cannot be maintained at the same level in the long run, as it has become ever more adverse towards competing water usages. The increasing use of the water and adjacent land also constitutes a major potential threat to water quality. Managed water level fluctuations should generally mimic natural patterns. Wind and solar power generation are suitable complements to agricultural land use. Cycling scarce nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial sectors is ambitious but promising, ultimately improving the generally poor soils in the area. Smart management of biodiversity can foster intensively-irrigated cropping, although the non-irrigated Caatinga ecosystem needs better management of its conflicting uses. Aims and responsibilities of multi-level planning and management require clarification and coordination between sectors, while practices of public participation should be revised in order to better support a comprehensive and transparent transition towards sustainability.

Análise dos procedimentos de regularização ambiental da atividade aquícola em Pernambuco

Brazil has potential for the expansion of aquiculture due to its hydro‐climatic characteristics, its energy matrix and its labour supply. Although the favourable framework, the state of Pernambuco has an aquaculture production that remains below its potentialities. Producers point out the difficulties to obtain environmental license as a reason for that. From this perspective, the objective of this study was to analyse the environmental regularization of aquaculture in Pernambuco, in order to identify the main obstacles faced by fish farmers for environmental licensing. Seventy‐four environmental licences were raised for aquaculture projects issued in the period 2009‐2014 in the state of Pernambuco: 12 are related to installation license, 13 to operating license, 23 to prior license, six to the installation license renewal and 20 with renewal of operating licence. In Pernambuco four grants were identified end twenty‐five general records of fishing activity were issued in the period from 2008 to 2015.