Surface degradation index derived from biophysical and hydroclimatological parameters: a case study in pasture areas.

• Grant number: 24/22242-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Humberto Ribeiro da Rocha
• Grantee: José Luiz Prado Junior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11762-5 - Centre for Water and Food Security in Critical Zones, AP.CCD

Abstract

Variations in productivity and vegetation types of a land cover affect the quality of ecosystem services it provides, such as temperature reduction, carbon assimilation, and more. This research aims to analyze the dependency relationships of net primary productivity with hydroclimatic and biophysical indices, focusing on pastures, to observe how variations in productivity levels impact ecosystem services. For comparison purposes, other land cover types will also be analyzed to assess the impacts of surface cover changes. The turbulent fluxes and hydroclimatic indices will be obtained using the SiB2 surface model, which simulates turbulent fluxes by employing a set of static vegetation and soil parameters along with atmospheric forcings for each simulation step. Vegetation parameters will be estimated through empirical relationships, utilizing biophysical indices such as NDVI and EVI for their calculation. Atmospheric forcings will be derived from reanalysis products and calibrated with flux tower data and other sources if necessary. The relationships between productivity and hydroclimatic and biophysical indices will be analyzed during the dry and rainy seasons over intervals starting from one year. The research focuses on southeastern region of Brazil, aiming to evaluate the socioecological impacts of land cover changes and the microclimatic alterations triggered by these changes.