Remote Sensing, Vol. 17, Pages 2866: Remote Observation of the Impacts of Land Use on Rainfall Variability in the Triângulo Mineiro (Brazilian Cerrado Region)

Remote Sensing doi: 10.3390/rs17162866

Authors:
Ana Carolina Durigon Boldrin
Bruno Enrique Fuzzo
João Alberto Fischer Filho
Daniela Fernanda da Silva Fuzzo

Throughout history, humans have modified the environment, transforming natural biomes into agricultural areas. In the 1990s, economic policies accelerated the expansion of agricultural frontiers in Brazil, including the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba regions. This study analyzes rainfall variability from 1990 to 2021 and its relationship with land use. For this purpose, satellite data from MapBiomas, ERA5, and NASA POWER were processed using Google Earth Engine and QGIS. Statistical methods included the Spearman correlation and the Mann–Kendall trend test. The results revealed that average annual precipitation decreased from 1663.35 mm in 1991 to 1128.94 mm in 2022—a 32.14% reduction. Simultaneously, agricultural and urban areas increased by 365% and 237.59%, respectively. Spearman analysis showed negative correlations between precipitation and agriculture (ρ = −0.51) and urbanization (ρ = −0.51), and positive correlations with pasture (ρ = +0.52) and water bodies (ρ = +0.46). These trends suggest that land use intensification significantly affects regional rainfall patterns. Unlike studies focusing mainly on Amazon deforestation, this research emphasizes the Cerrado biome’s climatic vulnerability. The use of long-term, high-resolution remote sensing data allows a robust analysis of land use impacts. By highlighting a clear link between land transformation and precipitation decline, this study offers insights for policymaking aimed at balancing agricultural development and water resource preservation. This research underscores the importance of sustainable land management practices, such as agroecology, reforestation, and ecological corridors, for regional climate resilience.

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Ana Carolina Durigon Boldrin www.mdpi.com