AVALIAÇÃO DAS RELAÇÕES ENTRE OS PARÂMETROS DA MODELAGEM GEOMORFOLÓGICA E A COBERTURA FLORESTAL NO NOROESTE DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL / ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MODELING PARAMETERS AND THE FOREST COVER IN THE NORTHWEST OF RS

Abstract

doi: 10.12957/geouerj.2017.19502

This study is committed to perform a geomorphological characterization in two micro-regions in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul state - South Brazil, and relate it to the forest coverage dynamics from 1985 to 2014. As input data, we used ASTER-GDEM (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer - Global Digital Elevation Map) data. Three geomorphological maps were elaborated: elevation, aspect, and slope. The forest coverage maps were carried out using manual classification in Landsat 5 imagery (Thematic Mapper sensor) for the years of 1985, 1994 and 2005, and Landsat 8 (Operational Land Imager sensor) for the 2014 year. The results showed that great part of the study area presents undulating and strongly undulating relief, with east-oriented elevations ranging from 300 to 450 m. The forest coverage maps showed an increase of 50.4% forest cover between 1985 and 2014. Most of this increase took place on undulating and strongly undulating terrain, possibly due to the abandonment of agricultural areas and to the planting of exotic forest species.