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Assessment of Land Desertification in the Brazilian East Atlantic Region Using the Medalus Model and Google Earth Engine

Author

Listed:
  • Theilon Henrique de Jesus Macêdo

    (Forest Sciences Graduate Program, State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Cristiano Tagliaferre

    (Department of Agricultural Engineering and Soils (DEAS), State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Bismarc Lopes da Silva

    (Graduate Program in Agronomy, State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Alessandro de Paula

    (Department of Agricultural Engineering and Soils (DEAS), State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Odair Lacerda Lemos

    (Department of Agricultural Engineering and Soils (DEAS), State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Felizardo Adenilson Rocha

    (Federal Institute of Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Rosilene Gomes de Souza Pinheiro

    (Graduate Program in Agronomy, State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

  • Ana Carolina Santos Lima

    (Graduate Program in Agronomy, State University of Southwestern Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-000, Bahia, Brazil)

Abstract

Many factors drive land desertification, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the sheer number of these driving factors of desertification makes analyses computer-intensive. Cloud computing offers a solution to address this problem, especially in developing countries. The objective of this work was to assess the sensitivity of the East Atlantic Basin, Brazil, to desertification using the Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) model and Google Earth Engine (GEE). The model is composed of four environmental Quality Indices (QIs) associated with soil (SQI), vegetation (VQI), climate (CQI), and management (MQI), each encompassing factors that influence the desertification process. Digital databases corresponding to these factors were pre-processed and uploaded to GEE for analysis. We report Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and Environmentally Critical Factors (ECF) maps of the East Atlantic Basin, which show that most of the basin is in either a critical (49.4%) or fragile (35.7%) state of sensitivity. In contrast, only a smaller portion of the area is unaffected (5%) or potentially affected (10.1%). The analysis also revealed an inverse correlation between desertification sensitivity and the presence of vigorous vegetation. A joint evaluation of ESAs and ECF shed light on the importance of each factor in the sensitivity to desertification. The East Atlantic Basin shows a high degree of sensitivity to desertification, thereby demanding more attention and the establishment of measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the desertification process.

Suggested Citation

  • Theilon Henrique de Jesus Macêdo & Cristiano Tagliaferre & Bismarc Lopes da Silva & Alessandro de Paula & Odair Lacerda Lemos & Felizardo Adenilson Rocha & Rosilene Gomes de Souza Pinheiro & Ana Carol, 2023. "Assessment of Land Desertification in the Brazilian East Atlantic Region Using the Medalus Model and Google Earth Engine," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:31-:d:1307718
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nikolai Dronin, 2023. "Reasons to rename the UNCCD: Review of transformation of the political concept through the influence of science," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 2058-2078, March.
    2. Gerson Meza Mori & Cristóbal Torres Guzmán & Manuel Oliva-Cruz & Rolando Salas López & Gladys Marlo & Elgar Barboza, 2022. "Spatial Analysis of Environmentally Sensitive Areas to Soil Degradation Using MEDALUS Model and GIS in Amazonas (Peru): An Alternative for Ecological Restoration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
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