Rafaelo Balbinot

Investigation of terrain illumination effects on vegetation indices and VI-derived phenological metrics in subtropical deciduous forests

We used RapidEye and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra data to study terrain illumination effects on 3 vegetation indices (VIs) and 11 phenological metrics over seasonal deciduous forests in southern Brazil. We applied TIMESAT for the analysis of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from the MOD13Q1 product to calculate phenological metrics. We related the VIs with the cosine of the incidence angle i (Cos i) and inspected percentage changes in VIs before and after topographic C-correction. The results showed that the EVI was more sensitive to seasonal changes in canopy biophysical attributes than the NDVI and Red-Edge NDVI, as indicated by analysis of non-topographically corrected RapidEye images from the summer and winter. On the other hand, the EVI was more sensitive to terrain illumination, presenting higher correlation coefficients with Cos i that decreased with reduction in the canopy background L factor. After C-correction, the RapidEye Red-Edge NDVI, NDVI, and EVI decreased 2%, 1%, and 13% over sunlit surfaces and increased up to 5%, 14%, and 89% over shaded surfaces, respectively. The EVI-related phenological metrics were also much more affected by topographic effects than the NDVI-derived metrics. From the set of 11 metrics, the 2 that described the period of lower photosynthetic activity and seasonal VI amplitude presented the largest correlation coefficients with Cos i. The results showed that terrain illumination is a factor of spectral variability in the seasonal analysis of phenological metrics, especially for VIs that are not spectrally normalized.

Aboveground stock of biomass and organic carbon in stands of Pinus taeda L.

This study aimed to estimate biomass and organic carbon in stands of Pinus taeda L. at different ages (14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 32 years) and located in the municipality of General Carneiro (PR). In order to estimate biomass and organic carbon in different tree components (needles, live branches, dead branches, bark and stem wood), the destructive quantification method was used in which seven trees from each age category were randomly sampled across the stand. Stocks of biomass and organic carbon were found to vary between the different age categories, mainly as a result of existing dissimilarities between ages in association with forest management practices such as thinning, pruning and tree density per hectare.

Relationships between MODIS phenological metrics, topographic shade, and anomalous temperature patterns in seasonal deciduous forests of south Brazil

We investigated the relationships between 11 phenological metrics, topographic shade, and anomalous temperature patterns detected using wavelet analysis in seasonal deciduous forests of south Brazil. To obtain the metrics, we applied the TIMESAT algorithm to the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra. MODIS acquires data from the study area under a large seasonal amplitude in the solar zenith angle (SZA). We evaluated the effect of topography on phenological metrics by correlating the metrics with shaded relief values. To analyse the inter-annual phenological metric variations with anomalous and regular temperature patterns, we calculated standard anomalies for each metric. Finally, we established relationships between the metrics and the minimum, maximum, and mean temperatures from growing seasons that spanned over 10 seasonal cycles between 2002 and 2012. The correlation results with shaded relief showed that the left (LD) and right derivative (RD), small integral (SInt), seasonal amplitude (SA), base level (BL), and maximum VI value (MV) were sensitive to topographic effects. The seasonal cycles with the highest temperatures in the growing season (2006/2007 and 2009/2010) exhibited a delay at the end of the cycle and a higher interval of duration and productivity, which was indicated by the positive standard anomalies for end of season (EOS), length of season (LOS), large integral (LInt), and SInt. We observed a different result for the lowest temperature cycle (2003/2004). The means for these metrics in anomalous seasons differed significantly from the metrics of other regular cycles at the 0.05 significance level using paired t-tests. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the metrics and minimum and mean temperature values of the 10 seasonal cycles.

Teores de carbono em espécies da floresta ombrófila mista e efeito do grupo ecológico

This study was conducted in Boa Ventura do Sao Roque, Parana State, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the carbon concentration in components of 12 arboreal species from the Araucaria Forest, as well as the performance of the 0.5 conversion factor and the influence of trees ecological groups in their carbon concentration. Carbon concentration averages were obtained from the tree components, and compared among them, among the species and the conversion factor, to assess the interspecific differences and the reliability of the conversion factor. To analyze the influence of ecological groups over the carbon concentration of the species, cluster analyzes were performed. It was not found significant difference among the carbon concentration in the components of the trees. However, comparing the 12 species, Luehea divaricata, Albizia polycephala and Cestrum sp. differed significantly, presenting lower carbon concentration. Comparison between carbon concentration average of the species and the 0.5 conversion factor indicated that the latter overestimates the carbon concentration in the trees at an average rate of 14.27%. No correlation was found between the ecological groups of the species and their carbon concentration, since groups were formed by species with distinct ecological traits.

DINÂMICA DE FRAGMENTOS FLORESTAIS NO NOROESTE DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL

O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar a dinâmica da cobertura florestal no Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre 1985 e 2014 por meio de produtos de sensoriamento remoto. O mapeamento da cobertura florestal foi realizado com base em imagens do Landsat 5 e do Landsat 8. O mapeamento da cobertura florestal aponta um aumento de 50,4% da area ocupada por florestas entre 1985 e 2014. O numero de fragmentos florestais cresceu 156,7% de 1985 a 2005, reduzindo 39,2% de 2005 a 2014. Em relacao ao tamanho dos fragmentos, observa-se uma queda no numero de fragmentos muito pequenos e pequenos e o aumento do numero de fragmentos medios e grandes, principalmente entre 2005 e 2014. As metricas de paisagem indicaram que a regiao se apresenta muito fragmentada. Entretanto, a mesma esta passando por um processo de regeneracao florestal, resultado da criacao de leis e politicas publicas que promovem a preservacao e plantio de florestas.

EFFICIENCY OF THE USE OF YERBA MATE SOLAR RADIATION IN INTERCROPPING OR MONOCROPPING FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF CARBON

A eficiencia de conversao da radiacao solar e uma variavel frequentemente utilizada em modelos de simulacao do crescimento das culturas, pois a producao de biomassa, e consequentemente, o acumulo de carbono, estao relacionados com a eficiencia de conversao da energia radiante em quimica pela planta, atraves do processo da fotossintese. Dessa maneira, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a eficiencia de conversao da radiacao solar fotossinteticamente ativa interceptada (RFAi) no acumulo de carbono na parte aerea de Ilex paraguariensis, em cultivo consorciado (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. e Pinus elliottii Engelm) e solteiro. A eficiencia de conversao da RFAi em carbono acumulado foi calculado a partir da relacao entre o acumulo de carbono e a RFAi envolvida. A maior eficiencia de conversao (eb) de radiacao solar fotossinteticamente ativa interceptada no acumulo de carbono na parte aerea em plantas de erva-mate e obtida no sistema de cultivo consorciado.

WORKGEO: capacitação e motivação com uso de geotecnologias

As atividades academicas em que o carater teorico das disciplinas e elevado, muitas vezes sao massivas e pouco atraentes para os estudantes. Nesse sentido, o projeto WORKGEO foi criado e esta sendo executado com o objetivo de promover a capacitacao e motivacao de estudantes, egressos e profissionais na area de geotecnologias , atraves de cursos tecnicos focados e de cunho pratico. A metodologia foi/e consiste na avaliacao demandas, planejamento da frequencia e execucao de cursos. Como resultados, foram oferecidos ate o momento cinco cursos: Geoestatistica, SISVAR, ARCGIS, Modelagem de Biomassa Arborea e QGIS. Verificou-se uma demanda superior a oferta de 150 vagas. Esse resultado mostrou a importância das atividades praticas na motivacao e capacitacao

BIOMASSA E CARBONO ORGÂNICO EM POVOAMENTOS DE Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze

The objective was to estimate the biomass and organic carbon in Araucaria angustifolia stands with different ages. The Araucaria angustifolia stands studied were not pruning but were thinning in difference ages. In stands of 32 and 31 years-old, were three thinnings. In stands of 30, 29, 25, 24 and 23 years-old, were two thinnings. Biomass avaliation was conducted according to the destructive method, using the sampling of seven trees were randomly distributed in each stand. The plants were harvested, after were obtained the dendrometric variables: DBH, total height and commercial height (minimum diameter of 8 cm). Stand with 23 years had the highest volume of stem wood (613.02 m3 ha-1), followed by 30, 31 and 32 years-old stands (418.41, 520.21 and 518.48 m³ ha-1), respectively. However, in terms of stem biomass the results were similar, 23 years-old stand had 138.02 Mg ha-1 and 30, 31 to 32 years-old totaled 118.77, 128.97 and 155.01 Mg ha-1, respectively. In Araucaria angustifolia stands the total stock biomass and organic carbon in different ages ranged from 60.72 to 289.84 Mg ha-1 and 21.73 to 123.86 Mg ha-1, respectively. Plant densitie and thinning intensity were directly influenced the biomass and carbon stored.

Variação longitudinal da massa específica básica da madeira de Cordia americana e Alchornea triplinervia

The specific gravity (MEb) is one of the main parameters of wood properties. Considering that, this study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal variation of the basic density of the wood of Cordia americana (Linnaeus) Gottshling & J.E. Mill and Alchornea triplinervia (Sprengel) Muller Argoviensis. The trees were selected in a fragment of subtropical semideciduals forest (local name Floresta Estacional Decidual), in Irai-RS, Brazil that, after logging, were measured and scaled by the method of Smalian. To examine the wood density, discs were collected with about two centimeters at positions base, 1.3 m (DBH), 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the height along de stem. Two wedges being withdrawn symmetrical and opposite, which was obtained green volume, wood saturated and dry weight in an oven at 103C (±2°C). Alchornea triplinervia (S.) showed homogeneous wood density in the longitudinal direction of the stem, and Cordia americana (L.) had decreased wood density towards base-top.

CÓDIGO FLORESTAL E APLICAÇÕES PRÁTICAS NA PEQUENA PROPRIEDADE RURAL

Nowadays, environmental issues are increasingly present in the everyday life of society, so it is necessary to generate goods and services respecting and preserving the environment, because the economic development of a country is fundamental for the well-being, and improvement in living conditions of the population, and this life quality is only possible with a healthy and balanced environment. In the vast majority of rural properties, not only in the municipalities concerned in this research, but also throughout the state of Rio Grande do Sul and in the country as a whole, there is a violation in the current Forestry Code, is it not applied for lack of knowledge from the population, neglect, or even through lack of supervision of environmental agencies. Different soil uses in rural properties from the Médio Alto Uruguai region, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, were mapped, and it was found its suitability or not suitability to the forestry code, analyzing the effect of its fulfillment, on land use in small rural properties. The evaluations of this work show the true reality of small-scale agriculture in the region, which are the applications of the code that caused major changes in the properties, and their impacts on the property, thus, a future work based on factors that need to be improved and corrected on each property, for the same being up to date with the current Forestry Code.