O POTENCIAL DAS IMAGENS DE SATÉLITE NO MONITORAMENTO E MAPEAMENTO DE SECAS EM MOÇAMBIQUE

Abstract

This work seeks to investigate the applicability of remote sensing techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), seeking answers for the monitoring and mapping of droughts, based mainly on the use of the physical principles of electromagnetic waves, through remote sensors from satellites environmental observations. The intention is to reinforce basic knowledge about the geographic extent and magnitude of droughts in Mozambique, to allow the development of drought information and monitoring systems, using satellite images combined with GIS. These images, when combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, have the potential to serve as a powerful instrument for detecting and monitoring processes that can result in natural disasters, such as drought. However, the use of this instrument requires knowledge of the empirical relationship between precipitation and vegetation conditions. For the study of the vegetation status, the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) was used. It was possible to determine the significant range for situations of drought occurrences in Mozambique, which ranges from 0.23 to 0.37, for the magnitude of the severe to weak type. 

Keywords: GIS, drought mapping, NDVI.