Analysis of Surface Albedo in Oil Palm and Differents Land Use and Land Cover in The Eastern Amazon

Abstract

In recent years there has been a continuous advance of the agricultural frontier of oil palm in the Amazon region, which causes changes in soil cover in this region. Given the need to understand the influence of this crop on surface albedo, the present study aims to compare the fluctuations of surface albedo in oil palm culture area with those of pasture, forest and secondary vegetation. To make this comparison, orbital data based on Terra / MODIS satellite product MCD43A3 for the years 2015 and 2016 were used. The samples selected for the study area showed that the oil palm showed little variation, estimating values medium α = 0.14, being statistically distinct from other uses and coverings, with the albedo: Pasture > Palm Oil > Secondary Vegetation > Forest. Demonstrating that possible conversions from one cover to another can influence the surface radiation balance, ie if oil palm cultivation continues to advance over pasture areas, this would decrease surface albedo and consequently have microclimate changes, however. If expansion occurs over areas of Secondary Vegetation or Forest an inversion will occur and may contribute to climate change.

Keywords:
land cover and land use; oil palm; remote sensing; surface albedo; Amazon