The high incidence of pathogens is one of the main causes for impaired surface water quality designations in the United States. Pathogen presence in fresh water is monitored through the detection of indicator bacteria. Indicator bacteria concentrations, spatial and temporal variability, and microbial risks were evaluated in two rural watersheds, the Bosque and Leon Rivers, and one predominantly urban watershed, the San Jacinto River, all in Texas. Human health risk was predicted from contaminated waters as indicated by ingestion of Escherichia coli found in surface water for contact recreation scenarios. The watersheds were chosen because many segments were previously placed on the 303 (d) list (published by the TCEQ) for failing the indicator bacteria standards. Predominantly urban areas of the San Jacinto River and rural portions of the Bosque and Leon Rivers, where Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are numerous, were compared to relatively pristine rural watersheds. Spatial analysis of the watersheds with E.coli concentrations exceeding the single sample (394 MPN/100mL) and the geometric mean standards (126 MPN/100mL) indicated that land use is a significant factor influencing the incidence of bacterial concentrations. Non-agricultural rural areas of the watersheds, such as forests and rangelands, had significantly lower E.coli concentrations compared to the agricultural areas and urban land uses. Human health risk due to ingestion of E.coli as an indicator organism indicated a similar pattern to that of their concentrations in that urban and agricultural areas had a greater risk compared to the other rural areas of the watersheds. The risk estimate for urban and agricultural areas exceeded the acceptable limit of one in ten thousand (10^-4), indicating a potential for adverse health effects to humans. Temporal variability in the watersheds as a function of streamflow, rainfall, and temperature indicated a positive correlation between bacterial concentration and high streamflow, rainfall and temperature. The positive correlation for these effects was greater in the rural areas compared to urban areas, indicating the presence of multiple factors responsible for E.coli concentrations in urban areas. Thus, land use was confirmed to be a major factor contributing to the presence of indicator bacteria in surface waters.

The intensification of land-water management due to agriculture, forestry, and urbanization is a global phenomenon increasing the pressure on worlds water resources and threatening water security in North America. The Prairie Pothole Region of North America covers approximately 775,000 km2 and contains millions of wetlands that serve important hydrological and ecological functions. The unique hummocky topography and the variable effect of different processes contribute to high spatio-temporal variability in soil water, posing major challenges in hydrological studies. The objectives of this study were to a) examine the spatial pattern of soil water storage and its scale and location characteristics; and b) to identify its controls at multiple scales. Soil water content at 20 cm intervals down to 140 cm was measured along a transect extending over several knolldepression cycles in a hummocky landscape. High water storage in depressions and low water storage on the knolls created a spatial pattern that was inversely related to elevation. Spatial patterns were strongly similar within any given season (intra-season rank correlation coefficient as high as 0.99), moreso than between the same season over different years (inter-annual rank correlation coefficient as high as 0.97). Less similar spatial patterns were observed between different seasons (inter-season rank correlation coefficients as high as 0.90). While the intra-season and inter-annual spatial patterns were similar at scales >18 m, the inter-season spatial patterns were similar at much large scales (>72 m). This may be due to the variations in landform elements and micro-topography. The similarity at scales >72 m were present at any time and depth. However, small- and medium-scale spatial patterns changed with depth and with season due to a change in the hydrological processes. The relative dominance of a given set of processes operating both within a season and for the same season over different years yielded strong intra-season and inter-annual similarity at scales >18 m. Moreover, similarity was stronger with increasing depth, and was thought to be due to the dampening effect of overlying soil layers that are more dynamic. Similarity of spatial patterns over time helps to identify the location that best represents the field averaged soil water and improves sampling efficiency. Change in the similarity of scales of spatial pattern helps identify the change in sampling domain as controlled by hydrological processes. The scale information can be used to improve prediction for use in environmental management and modeling of different surface and subsurface hydrological processes. The similarity of spatial pattern between the surface and subsurface layers help make inferences on deep layer hydrological processes as well as groundwater dynamics from surface water measurements.

The intensification of land-water management due to agriculture, forestry, and urbanization is a global phenomenon increasing the pressure on worlds water resources and threatening water security in North America. The Prairie Pothole Region of North America covers approximately 775,000 km2 and contains millions of wetlands that serve important hydrological and ecological functions. The unique hummocky topography and the variable effect of different processes contribute to high spatio-temporal variability in soil water, posing major challenges in hydrological studies. The objectives of this study were to a) examine the spatial pattern of soil water storage and its scale and location characteristics; and b) to identify its controls at multiple scales. Soil water content at 20 cm intervals down to 140 cm was measured along a transect extending over several knolldepression cycles in a hummocky landscape. High water storage in depressions and low water storage on the knolls created a spatial pattern that was inversely related to elevation. Spatial patterns were strongly similar within any given season (intra-season rank correlation coefficient as high as 0.99), moreso than between the same season over different years (inter-annual rank correlation coefficient as high as 0.97). Less similar spatial patterns were observed between different seasons (inter-season rank correlation coefficients as high as 0.90). While the intra-season and inter-annual spatial patterns were similar at scales >18 m, the inter-season spatial patterns were similar at much large scales (>72 m). This may be due to the variations in landform elements and micro-topography. The similarity at scales >72 m were present at any time and depth. However, small- and medium-scale spatial patterns changed with depth and with season due to a change in the hydrological processes. The relative dominance of a given set of processes operating both within a season and for the same season over different years yielded strong intra-season and inter-annual similarity at scales >18 m. Moreover, similarity was stronger with increasing depth, and was thought to be due to the dampening effect of overlying soil layers that are more dynamic. Similarity of spatial patterns over time helps to identify the location that best represents the field averaged soil water and improves sampling efficiency. Change in the similarity of scales of spatial pattern helps identify the change in sampling domain as controlled by hydrological processes. The scale information can be used to improve prediction for use in environmental management and modeling of different surface and subsurface hydrological processes. The similarity of spatial pattern between the surface and subsurface layers help make inferences on deep layer hydrological processes as well as groundwater dynamics from surface water measurements.

Geotechnical engineers often face important discrepancies between the observed and the predicted behavior of geosystems. Two conceptual frameworks are hypothesized as possible causes: the ubiquitous spatial variability in soil properties and process-dependent terminal densities inherent to granular materials. The effects of spatial variability are explored within conduction and diffusion processes. Mixtures, layered systems, inclusions and random fields are considered, using numerical, experimental and analytical methods. Results include effective medium parameters and convenient design and analysis tools for various common engineering cases. In addition, the implications of spatial variability on inverse problems in diffusion are numerically explored for the common case of layered media. The second hypothesis states that there exists a unique terminal density for every granular material and every process. Common geotechnical properties are readily cast in this framework, and new experimental data are presented to further explore its implications. Finally, an unprecedented field study of blast densification is documented. It involves comprehensive laboratory and site characterization programs and an extensive field monitoring component. This full scale test lasts one year and includes four blasting events.

Benthic microalgal community composition on an ephemerally submerged sandflat at East Beach, Galveston Island, Texas was studied to determine the spatial and temporal variability of total biomass and community composition and its responses to experimental manipulations of two environmental factors (salinity and nutrients). Four field studies were conducted between August 2004 and February 2005. The community consisted of two major algal groups, diatoms, and cyanobacteria with two less abundant groups, green algae, and phototrophic bacteria. Spatial variability showed that patch sizes of 12 - 25 m were detected over larger scales with smaller scale (cm) patches of approximately 28 - 201 cm^-2 contained within the larger patches. The second study examined the spatio-temporal variability of BMA over a 21-month period in a 1,000 m^2 area. Sampling location and date explained a significant amount of the variability in the abundances of algal groups, which were positively correlated with the water content of the sediments and negatively correlated with temperature (sediment and water). All of the algal groups showed a seasonal pattern with higher abundances measured in the winter months and lower abundances found during the summer. BMA biomass (100 mg Chl a m^-2 or greater) maxima occurred at temperatures less than 22 degrees C and sediment water content greater than 15% (g water g sediment^-1). BMA response to different salinities and nutrient (N+P) amended sediments was assessed in four bioassays conducted over a 6-month period (Aug. 2004, Oct. 2004, Dec. 2004, and Feb. 2005). In the salinity study, the treatments that were either 100% or partially diluted with deionized water had the lowest BMA biomass over all. Chlorophyll a and fucoxanthin were significantly affected by salinity with higher abundances found in salinities that averaged 15 with a preference for salinities greater than 22. Chlorophyll b was affected by salinity with higher abundances measured in the treatments with lowest salinity (DL and DI); and was affected by the time of year. This would suggest that this algal group prefers an environment with salinity less than 2 but can easily adapt to environments with higher salinities. BMA abundances were not significantly affected by the nutrient amended sediment, but were significantly affected by stations with higher water content, and during the cooler months (Dec. 2004 and Feb. 2005).

Soil cover systems are an integral part of a mine reclamation program and are increasing in area. Knowledge of temperatures and thermal properties in the cover system provide important information regarding the energy balance, thermal regime, as well as preliminary insight into soil water content. Cover system temperatures and thermal properties are measured at a small number of vertically intensive profiles. Current methods do not provide any information as to the spatial variation of temperatures and thermal properties at scales other than the point scale. The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial scaling of thermal properties in reclamation cover systems. A distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system was installed in three cover systems of various textures and configurations. Semivariogram analysis demonstrated that on a 40 m slope consisting of mineral soil over sand (Site #1) soil temperatures did not exhibit any spatial structure, due to the presence of vegetation. A 100 m cover system comprised of a structureless sand (Site #2) was confirmed to be spatially uniform through semivariogram analysis. Semivariograms at Site #2 displayed secondary structure that corresponded to the 65 m plateau and 35 m slope. Site #3 consisted of a uniform peat and a 2% slope. Spatial structure was non-existent at Site #3 and was attributed to the unique thermal properties of peat that magnified the effect of microtopography on the surface energy balance. A method to estimate apparent thermal inertia (ATI) using DTS measurements at the soil surface was developed. Apparent thermal inertia was found to be less uncertain than the current standard apparent thermal diffusivity. The ATI method was determined to be the preferred method as it was related to soil water content and not prone to estimation errors due to imprecise depth measurement. The spatial scaling properties of a 236 m cover system (Site #3) were investigated using estimations of ATI. Measurements were taken every meter along the transect for bulk density, elevation, air-dried thermal conductivity and air-dried volumetric heat capacity. The dominant scale of variation in ATI was not related to physical or thermal properties, which tended towards the 3 m scale (bulk density and thermal conductivity) or the 108 m and field scale trend (elevation and volumetric heat capacity). The dominant scale of variation in ATI shifted between 30 m and the field scale trend and was related to water content as represented by the soil matric potential. A dry cover system tended to homogenize thermal property distribution, leading to a dominance of the 108 m and field scale trend. Wetter days led to a shift to the 30 m scale, with intermediate days showing a mix in scale dominance. Information on thermal property spatial scaling properties of cover systems can be used to optimally design monitoring systems that measure at the same scale as that which the cover is performing. Characterizing the spatial variability of the system will lead to better cover system designs and ultimately a more sustainable system.

Resumo: Os atributos mineralógicos e físicos possuem dependência espacial e a distribuição espacial destes atributos possui relação com as formas do relevo. O objeto deste trabalho foi avaliar os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila e os atributos físicos de um argissolo em curvaturas do relevo, assim como avaliar a correlação entre esses atributos. Uma malha de dimensão 100 x 100 m foi delimitada em uma área caracterizada pela forma convexa e outra pela fôrma côncava. As malhas possuem espaçamento regular de 10 x 10 m e os pontos de cruzamento deste espaçamento determinaram os pontos de coleta das amostras, num total de 121 pontos amostrais georreferenciados em cada malha. Os atributos físicos foram avaliados nas profundidades 0,0- 0,2 e 0,2-0,4 m e os atributos mineralógicos na profundidade 0,0- 0,2 m. Os atributos físicos analisados foram diâmetro médio ponderado, diâmetro médio geométrico, agregados maiores que 2 mm, agregados entre 2 e 1 mm , agregados menores que 1 mm, microporos, macroporos, volume total de poros, densidade do solo, resistência do solo à penetração e teor de água no solo, já os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila foram largura a meia altura, diâmetro médio do cristal dos óxidos de ferro, da caulinita e gibbsita, substituição isomórfica e área de superfície específica da hematita e goethita. Os teores da goethita e hematita e razão goethita/(goethita+hematita) e razão caulinita/(caulinita+gibbsita) também foram calculados. Os dados foram submetidos às análises estatísticas e geoestatísticas para avaliação da variabilidade espacial e influência das curvaturas nestes atributos. Para avaliação da relação entre os atributos da mineralogia e físicos realizaram-se as análises de correlação simples e espacial. Os atributos físicos e mineralógicos apresentaram-se dependentes das curvaturas do relevo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The mineralogicals and physical attributes have spatial dependence and the distribution of these attributes has relation with the forms of relief. The object of this study was to evaluate the attributes of clay mineralogy and the physical attributes of an argissol in curvatures of relief, as well as assess the correlation between these attributes. A grid size of 100 x 100 meters was defined in an area characterized by the convex shape and another in an area characterized by the concave shape. The grids have regular spacing of 10 x 10 m and the spacing of the points of intersection determine the points of collection of samples, a total of 121 georeferenced sample points in each grid. The physical attributes were evaluated in depth from 0.0 - 0.2 and 0.2 -0.4 m and the mineralogical attributes in depth 0,00-0,20 m. The physical attributes were analyzed: mean weight diameter, mean geometric diameter, aggregates larger than 2 mm, aggregates between 2 and 1 mm, aggregates smaller than 1 mm, microporosity, macroporosity, total porosity, bulk density, penetration resistance and water content in soil. The attributes of minerals were: width at half height, average diameter of crystals of iron oxides and kaolinite and gibbsite and isomorphic substitution and specific surface area of hematite and goethite. The contents of goethite and hematite and ratio goethite / (goethite + hematite) [Gt / (Gt + Hm)] and ratio kaolinite / (kaolinite + gibbsite) [Ct / (Ct + Gb)] were also calculated. Data were subjected to statistical and geostatistical analysis to evaluate the spatial variability and influence of these curvatures on these attributes. To assess the relation between mineralogy and physical attributes simple and spation correlation analysis where made. The physical and mineralogical attributes and depend on the curvature of the relief. There was also the influence of crystallinity of goethite and gibbsite in soil physical. / Orientador: José Marques Júnior / Coorientador: Gener Tadeu Pereira / Banca: Marcílio Vieira Martins Filho / Banca: Zigomar Menezes de Souza / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:37:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 camargo_la_me_jabo.pdf: 1106150 bytes, checksum: d8d5b3f2596351c9b11f923ae4b5fc44 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Os atributos mineralógicos e físicos possuem dependência espacial e a distribuição espacial destes atributos possui relação com as formas do relevo. O objeto deste trabalho foi avaliar os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila e os atributos físicos de um argissolo em curvaturas do relevo, assim como avaliar a correlação entre esses atributos. Uma malha de dimensão 100 x 100 m foi delimitada em uma área caracterizada pela forma convexa e outra pela fôrma côncava. As malhas possuem espaçamento regular de 10 x 10 m e os pontos de cruzamento deste espaçamento determinaram os pontos de coleta das amostras, num total de 121 pontos amostrais georreferenciados em cada malha. Os atributos físicos foram avaliados nas profundidades 0,0- 0,2 e 0,2-0,4 m e os atributos mineralógicos na profundidade 0,0- 0,2 m. Os atributos físicos analisados foram diâmetro médio ponderado, diâmetro médio geométrico, agregados maiores que 2 mm, agregados entre 2 e 1 mm , agregados menores que 1 mm, microporos, macroporos, volume total de poros, densidade do solo, resistência do solo à penetração e teor de água no solo, já os atributos mineralógicos da fração argila foram largura a meia altura, diâmetro médio do cristal dos óxidos de ferro, da caulinita e gibbsita, substituição isomórfica e área de superfície específica da hematita e goethita. Os teores da goethita e hematita e razão goethita/(goethita+hematita) e razão caulinita/(caulinita+gibbsita) também foram calculados. Os dados foram submetidos às análises estatísticas e geoestatísticas para avaliação da variabilidade espacial e influência das curvaturas nestes atributos. Para avaliação da relação entre os atributos da mineralogia e físicos realizaram-se as análises de correlação simples e espacial. Os atributos físicos e mineralógicos apresentaram-se dependentes das curvaturas do relevo... / The mineralogicals and physical attributes have spatial dependence and the distribution of these attributes has relation with the forms of relief. The object of this study was to evaluate the attributes of clay mineralogy and the physical attributes of an argissol in curvatures of relief, as well as assess the correlation between these attributes. A grid size of 100 x 100 meters was defined in an area characterized by the convex shape and another in an area characterized by the concave shape. The grids have regular spacing of 10 x 10 m and the spacing of the points of intersection determine the points of collection of samples, a total of 121 georeferenced sample points in each grid. The physical attributes were evaluated in depth from 0.0 - 0.2 and 0.2 -0.4 m and the mineralogical attributes in depth 0,00-0,20 m. The physical attributes were analyzed: mean weight diameter, mean geometric diameter, aggregates larger than 2 mm, aggregates between 2 and 1 mm, aggregates smaller than 1 mm, microporosity, macroporosity, total porosity, bulk density, penetration resistance and water content in soil. The attributes of minerals were: width at half height, average diameter of crystals of iron oxides and kaolinite and gibbsite and isomorphic substitution and specific surface area of hematite and goethite. The contents of goethite and hematite and ratio goethite / (goethite + hematite) [Gt / (Gt + Hm)] and ratio kaolinite / (kaolinite + gibbsite) [Ct / (Ct + Gb)] were also calculated. Data were subjected to statistical and geostatistical analysis to evaluate the spatial variability and influence of these curvatures on these attributes. To assess the relation between mineralogy and physical attributes simple and spation correlation analysis where made. The physical and mineralogical attributes and depend on the curvature of the relief. There was also the influence of crystallinity of goethite and gibbsite in soil physical.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The variability of soil attributes is related to environmental factors affecting soil formation processes. Different techniques have been employed to map this variability, among these techniques, the reading of the magnetic susceptibility (MS) has been shown as an alternative due to its close relationship to the soil other attributes. This study aims to determine the magnetic susceptibility of Oxisol samples in a Rio Grande do Sul experimental area, related to different soil properties to understand the spatial distribution, as well to define different compartments of the landscape. The 350 ha study area is located in Santo Augusto city, three transects where were marked from the higher quota until the lower quota area, totaling 1450 m. In these transects we scored 29 points georeferenced, 50 m distance each one. Samples were collected at 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.15, 0.15-0.30 and 0.30-0.60 meters depth where we determined the particle size distribution, soil organic carbon and the MS. Also we opened five trenches along the transects distributed over different locations in the relief along the topossequence, where the morphological description, chemical, physical, and mineralogical analysis and MS in the samples of each horizon. In study 1, the profiles data from the attributes were submitted to Pearson linear correlation test to determine the correlation of MS with the other attributes of the soil. With transects data we carried out linear regressions for each depth in order to assess how the MS contributes to the clay, sand, and soil organic carbon prediction. To verify spatial dependence of the attributes in the sample we used points geostatistics with variograms settings. The values were interpolated using the ordinary kriging and subsequently we generated maps of soil attributes on topossequência for the four depths. In the study 2 the data from transects were submitted to descriptive statistics and analysis of the "Split Moving Window" (SMW), to investigate the behavior of the MS in determining the limits of landscape compartments. According to two studies we can infer that the MS has potential for application in the mapping of certain soil attributes, as well potential for determination of landscape compartments limits. / A variabilidade dos atributos do solo está relacionada aos fatores ambientais que condicionam os processos de formação do solo. Diante disso, diferentes técnicas têm sido empregadas para mapear essa variabilidade, dentre estas técnicas, a leitura da suscetibilidade magnética (SM) tem se mostrado como alternativa por sua estreita relação com os demais atributos do solo. O presente estudo tem por objetivo determinar a suscetibilidade magnética de amostras em Latossolos de uma área experimental no Rio Grande do Sul, relacionando com diferentes atributos do solo para compreender a distribuição espacial e delimitar diferentes compartimentos da paisagem. A área de estudo de 350 ha está localizada no município de Santo Augusto, onde foram marcadas três transeções desde a cota mais elevada até a cota mais baixa da área, totalizando 1450 m. Nestas transeções foram marcados 29 pontos georreferenciados, em distância regular de 50 m entre os pontos e entre as transeções. Foram coletadas amostras das profundidades 0,00-0,05, 0,05-0,15, 0,15-0,30 e 0,30-0,60 m onde se determinou a granulometria, carbono orgânico do solo e a SM. Também foram abertas cinco trincheiras ao longo das transeções distribuídas em locais diferenciados no relevo ao longo da topossequência, onde foi realizada a descrição morfológica e análises químicas, físicas, mineralógicas e de SM nas amostras de cada horizonte. No estudo 1, os dados provenientes dos atributos nos perfis foram submetidos ao teste de correlação linear de Pearson para averiguar a correlação da SM com os outros atributos do solo. Com os dados das transeções foram realizadas regressões lineares para cada profundidade a fim de avaliar o quanto a SM contribui para a predição do teor de argila, areia e carbono orgânico do solo. Para verificar a dependência espacial dos atributos nos pontos amostrais, foi utilizada a geoestatística com ajustes de variogramas. Os valores foram interpolados por meio da krigagem ordinária e posteriormente foram gerados mapas dos atributos do solo na topossequência para as quatro profundidades. No estudo 2 os dados provenientes das amostras das transeções foram submetidos à estatística descritiva e análise da ferramenta ―Split Moving Window‖ (SMW), para averiguar o comportamento da SM na determinação dos limites de compartimentos da paisagem. De acordo com os dois estudos pode-se inferir que a SM tem potencial para aplicação no mapeamento de determinados atributos do solo, bem como potencial para determinação de limites dos compartimentos da paisagem.

Submitted by Luciana Paro Scarin Freitas null (melscarin@gmail.com) on 2016-09-15T19:43:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Final - Luciana Paro Scarin Freitas - 150916.pdf: 2268932 bytes, checksum: 6258cf968244fdbb360b56af8ef82a25 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-15T19:48:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 freitas_lps_dr_ilha.pdf: 2268932 bytes, checksum: 6258cf968244fdbb360b56af8ef82a25 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-15T19:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 freitas_lps_dr_ilha.pdf: 2268932 bytes, checksum: 6258cf968244fdbb360b56af8ef82a25 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-05 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O dióxido de carbono (CO2) é considerado um dos principais gases do efeito estufa adicional e contribui significativamente para as mudanças climáticas globais. Áreas agrícolas oferecem uma oportunidade para mitigar esse efeito, uma vez que, dependendo de seu uso e manejo, são capazes de armazenar grandes quantidades de carbono, retirando-as da atmosfera. A produção de CO2 no solo é resultado de processos biológicos, como a decomposição da matéria orgânica e respiração de raízes e organismos do solo, fenômeno chamado de emissão de CO2 do solo (FCO2). O objetivo deste trabalho foi utilizar as redes neurais artificiais para estudo e previsão de padrões espaço-temporais da emissão de CO2 do solo em áreas de cana-de-açúcar em sistema de cana crua, colheita mecanizada, quando grandes quantidades de palhas são depositadas sobre a superfície do solo. Valores de FCO2 foram coletados em áreas de cultivo comercial no Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, registrados por meio do sistema LI-8100, em gradeados amostrais para determinação da variabilidade espaçotemporal de FCO2, e atributos físicos e químicos do solo. Foram utilizados dados referentes a estudos realizados nos anos de 2008, 2010 e 2012, no período após a operação de colheita mecânica da cultura. Uma rede neural Perceptron Multi-Camadas via algoritmo backpropagation foi aplicada para estimar a emissão de FCO2 do ano de 2012, utilizando os dados referentes aos anos de 2008 e 2010 para treinamento da rede neural. A rede neural inicialmente apresentou um MAPE de 18,3852 coeficiente de determinação R2 de 0,9188. Os dados obtidos do FCO2 observado e do FCO2 estimado apresentam moderada dependência espacial, e pelos mapas do padrão espacial do fluxo de CO2 é observado que a rede neural apresentou considerável similaridade com os dados observados, identificando os pontos característicos de maior emissão como também os de menor emissão de CO2. Portanto, os resultados indicam que a rede neural artificial pode fornecer estimativas com confiabilidade para a avaliação de FCO2 a partir de dados de atributos físicos e químicos do solo, sendo capaz de caracterizar a variabilidade espaçotemporal desse atributo em áreas de cana-de-açúcar, sob o sistema de cana crua no Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo. / Carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered one of the main gases additional greenhouse effect and contributes significantly to global climate change. Agriculture areas offer an opportunity to mitigate this effect, since, depending on its use and handling, are capable of storing large amounts of carbon, removing them from the atmosphere. The CO2 production in soil is the result of biological processes such as the decomposition of organic matter and breathing roots and soil organisms, a phenomenon called soil CO2 emissions (FCO2). The aim of this study was to use artificial neural networks to study and forecast patterns spatiotemporal of soil CO2 emission in areas of sugarcane in raw cane system, mechanical harvesting, when large amounts of straw are deposited on soil surface. FCO2 values were collected in areas of commercial cultivation in southeastern of the state of São Paulo, registered through the LI-8100 system, sample grilles for determining the spatiotemporal variability of FCO2, and physical and chemical soil properties. The used data were from studies conducted in the years 2008, 2010 and 2012, in the period after the mechanical harvesting operation culture. A Multilayer Perceptron neural network with backpropagation algorithm was applied to estimate the emission of FCO2 in the year 2012, using data from the years 2008 and 2010 to the neural network training. The neural network initially presented a MAPE of 18.3852 and determination coefficient R2 of 0.9188. Data obtained from the observed FCO2 and FCO2 estimated present moderate spatial dependence, and observing the maps of the spatial pattern of the CO2 flow show that neural network presents considerable similarity to the observed data, identifying the higher and lower characteristic points of CO2 emissions. Therefore, the results indicate that the artificial neural network can provide reliability for the evaluation of FCO2 from data of physical and chemical soil properties, being able to describe the spatiotemporal variability of this attribute in sugarcane fields, under the crude cane system in the southeastern of the state of São Paulo. / CNPq: 152199/2012-8