Dynamic of the main Northeastern Brazil phytogeographic domains and its connection with rainfall

Abstract

his study deals with the temporal variability of Normalized DifferenceVegetation Index (NDVI) for four main vegetation types in the brazilian northeast region: caatinga, cerrado, seasonal forest and ombrophilous forest. The data set used consists of images from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (AVHRR/NOAA) for the 1982-1998 period and rainfall observations from Superintendência para o Desenvolvimento do Nordeste (SUDENE) network. The analyzes were done using monthly rainfall, NDVI composites and their annual amplitude and phase, both in normal and El Niño years. Seasonal and annual rainfall distribution and NDVI time series show distinct behaviour particularly in El Niño years. Also, the amplitude of the NDVI is related to seasonal cycles of rainfall and vegetation cover, being sensitive to climatic anomalies. In northern Ceará state, backlands of Pernambuco state and central Maranhão state, the phase of the first harmonic shows that the timing of the growing season during EN years occurs one month later than the observed one in normal years. Key-words: NDVI; rainfall.