Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing

The study of energy, water, and carbon exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere is important in understanding the role of vegetation in regional microclimates. However, they are still relatively scarce when it comes to Caatinga vegetation. This study aims to identify differences in the dynami...

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Main Authors: Michele L. de Oliveira, Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos, Francineide Amorim Costa Santos, Gabriel de Oliveira, Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos, Ulisses Alencar Bezerra, John Elton de B. L. Cunha, Richarde Marques da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/4/828
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author Michele L. de Oliveira
Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos
Francineide Amorim Costa Santos
Gabriel de Oliveira
Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos
Ulisses Alencar Bezerra
John Elton de B. L. Cunha
Richarde Marques da Silva
author_facet Michele L. de Oliveira
Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos
Francineide Amorim Costa Santos
Gabriel de Oliveira
Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos
Ulisses Alencar Bezerra
John Elton de B. L. Cunha
Richarde Marques da Silva
author_sort Michele L. de Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description The study of energy, water, and carbon exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere is important in understanding the role of vegetation in regional microclimates. However, they are still relatively scarce when it comes to Caatinga vegetation. This study aims to identify differences in the dynamics of critical environmental variables such as net radiation (Rn), evapotranspiration (ET), and carbon fluxes (gross primary production, GPP) in contrasting recovered Caatinga (dense Caatinga, DC) and degraded Caatinga (sparse Caatinga, SC) in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Estimates were performed using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), and comparisons between estimated and measured data were conducted based on the coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>). The fluxes were measured using the Eddy Covariance (EC) method for comparison with the same variables derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data aboard the Terra satellite. The estimates showed higher Rn values for the DC, indicating that this area should have greater energy availability for physical, biological, and chemical processes. The R<sup>2</sup> between daily Rn estimates and observations was 0.93. The ET estimated using the SEBAL showed higher differences in relation to the observed values; however, it presented better spatial discrimination of the surface features. The MOD16A2 algorithm, however, presented ET values closer to the observed data and agreed with the seasonality of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). The DC generally showed higher ET values than the SC, while the MODIS data (GPP MOD17A2H) presented a temporal behavior closer to the observations. The difference between the two areas was more evident in the rainy season. The R<sup>2</sup> values between GPP and GPP MOD17A2H were 0.76 and 0.65 for DC and SC, respectively. In addition, the R<sup>2</sup> values for GPP Observed and GPP modeled were lower, i.e., 0.28 and 0.12 for the DC and SC, respectively. The capture of CO<sub>2</sub> is more evident for the DC considering the whole year, with the SC showing a notable increase in CO<sub>2</sub> absorption only in the rainy season. The GPP estimated from the MOD17A2H showed a predominant underestimation but evidenced the effects of land use and land cover changes over the two areas for all seasons.
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spelling doaj.art-f8368f93a7fa4896b6d7e7b9c96730452023-11-17T19:18:28ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-04-0114482810.3390/f14040828Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote SensingMichele L. de Oliveira0Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos1Francineide Amorim Costa Santos2Gabriel de Oliveira3Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos4Ulisses Alencar Bezerra5John Elton de B. L. Cunha6Richarde Marques da Silva7Graduate Program in Engineering and Natural Resources Management, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58109-970, Paraíba, BrazilGraduate Program in Engineering and Natural Resources Management, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58109-970, Paraíba, BrazilAcademic Unity of Atmospheric Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58109-970, Paraíba, BrazilDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Paraíba, BrazilProgram in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58109-970, Paraíba, BrazilProgram in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58109-970, Paraíba, BrazilDepartment of Geosciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Paraíba, BrazilThe study of energy, water, and carbon exchanges between ecosystems and the atmosphere is important in understanding the role of vegetation in regional microclimates. However, they are still relatively scarce when it comes to Caatinga vegetation. This study aims to identify differences in the dynamics of critical environmental variables such as net radiation (Rn), evapotranspiration (ET), and carbon fluxes (gross primary production, GPP) in contrasting recovered Caatinga (dense Caatinga, DC) and degraded Caatinga (sparse Caatinga, SC) in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Estimates were performed using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), and comparisons between estimated and measured data were conducted based on the coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>). The fluxes were measured using the Eddy Covariance (EC) method for comparison with the same variables derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data aboard the Terra satellite. The estimates showed higher Rn values for the DC, indicating that this area should have greater energy availability for physical, biological, and chemical processes. The R<sup>2</sup> between daily Rn estimates and observations was 0.93. The ET estimated using the SEBAL showed higher differences in relation to the observed values; however, it presented better spatial discrimination of the surface features. The MOD16A2 algorithm, however, presented ET values closer to the observed data and agreed with the seasonality of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). The DC generally showed higher ET values than the SC, while the MODIS data (GPP MOD17A2H) presented a temporal behavior closer to the observations. The difference between the two areas was more evident in the rainy season. The R<sup>2</sup> values between GPP and GPP MOD17A2H were 0.76 and 0.65 for DC and SC, respectively. In addition, the R<sup>2</sup> values for GPP Observed and GPP modeled were lower, i.e., 0.28 and 0.12 for the DC and SC, respectively. The capture of CO<sub>2</sub> is more evident for the DC considering the whole year, with the SC showing a notable increase in CO<sub>2</sub> absorption only in the rainy season. The GPP estimated from the MOD17A2H showed a predominant underestimation but evidenced the effects of land use and land cover changes over the two areas for all seasons.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/4/828MODISnet radiationenergy exchangeevapotranspirationgross primary productioncarbon dioxide
spellingShingle Michele L. de Oliveira
Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos
Francineide Amorim Costa Santos
Gabriel de Oliveira
Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos
Ulisses Alencar Bezerra
John Elton de B. L. Cunha
Richarde Marques da Silva
Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing
Forests
MODIS
net radiation
energy exchange
evapotranspiration
gross primary production
carbon dioxide
title Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing
title_full Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing
title_fullStr Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing
title_short Evaluation of Water and Carbon Estimation Models in the Caatinga Biome Based on Remote Sensing
title_sort evaluation of water and carbon estimation models in the caatinga biome based on remote sensing
topic MODIS
net radiation
energy exchange
evapotranspiration
gross primary production
carbon dioxide
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/4/828
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