The Relationship between Climatology and Environmental Infractions in the Serra de Baturité Environmental Protection Area in Ceará

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of the environmental infractions recorded in the period from 2015 to 2017 in the region of the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Serra de Baturité in the state of Ceará (Northeast of Brazil - NEB) and the possible relationship of these environmental infractions with the climatology of rainfall and average air temperatures (maximum and minimum) observed in the region. The results show that the region under study has a well-defined rainy season in the first half of the year and that most (approximately 70%) environmental infractions (deforestation, forest fires, irregular constructions and others) occur in the period of lower rainfall (second half of the year). In addition, the mean air temperature records show a (qualitative) trend of increasing values in the last decade (2010 to 2018) in relation to the 70s.

Keywords
climatology; environmental infractions; environmental protection area