Análise das unidades climáticas do Maciço da Pedra Branca(Rio de Janeiro): uma proposta a partir da Climatologia Geográfica

Abstract

Climate changes is increasingly evident, as made apparent by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and need to be addressed in environmental planning. As such, coastal massifs are of significant importance in climate studies for the city of Rio de Janeiro, as they influence the circulation and distribution of humidity and wind, as well as concentrating most of the forested vegetation. The Pedra Branca massif, divided by slopes to the north, west and East, has one of the largest urban conservation units (CU) in the world, the State Park of Pedra Branca (PEPB). At an altitude of 100 meters, it exhibits distinctive characteristics in terms of vegetation cover, with various strata and successional stages in the use and occupation of the soil, as well as in its physiography, which result in different types of climates. Thus, the main objective of the thesis is to perform a geographic analysis of the climate in the Pedra Branca Massif, from its thermal and hygrometric characteristics, which aims to establish the boundaries of climatic units according to the Novais Classification (2019). The assumptions that provided the theoretical and epistemological basis for the research were based on the understanding of climate scales, the definitions of climate units according to Novais, and the understanding of how vegetation can influence climate. The results achieved corresponded directly with the specific objectives listed, with the survey and analysis of the geo-environmental and geo-urban aspects, as well as an analysis of the climate, geomorphology, pedology, hydrography, and vegetation cover with regard to the use and occupation of the soil within the PEPB and its buffer zone. Climate unit boundaries were made up to the fifth hierarchy, encountering different units on the slopes, identifying a zonal, hot climate with three domains: Tropical Mild; Tropical and the Semi-arid, the sub-domains according to the dry months (humid, semi-humid, semi-dry and dry), the Brazilian Southern Coastal type, and in the subtypes the main geomorphologic unit for the definitions is the Fluminense Coastal Massifs. The spatialization of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) showed that the north and west slopes are the most degraded. The Surface Temperature (ST) also showed results that corroborate those found in the NDVI, SAVI and EVI, with higher temperatures in the areas that presented lower indices, and with lower temperatures in the areas with higher vegetation values. Such mappings provided the basis for delimiting the climate units, which also found support in the photographs of vegetation aspects from the fieldwork that was conducted. It is hoped that this research can offer support for planning actions and future updates of the PEPB management plan. In addition to being able to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The preservation of the vegetation on the coastal massifs play a fundamental role in the dynamics of the landscape and the resilience of its environmental resources for the surrounding society.