Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-01-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:50:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 miqueloni_dp_me_jabo.pdf: 977047 bytes, checksum: 4aaa69273226d26e905b5fb3013aed3f (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Devido sua importância, a perda de solo das microbacias de cabeceira do Córrego do Tijuco-SP foi estimada por meio da EUPS, e a variabilidade espacial dos fatores do processo erosivo foi investigada pelas análises multivariada e geoestatística. A perda de solo média estimada foi considerada alta, 118,50 Mg ha-1 ano-1, e a correlação de Pearson confirmou o fator erodibilidade do solo como o fator mais importante no processo erosivo. A erodibilidade local é condicionada pela distribuição das frações granulométricas e matéria orgânica, sendo o solo basicamente de textura média/arenosa de baixa coesão. Próxima a zona urbana, a interação do fator erosividade da chuva e do fator práticas conservacionistas se mostrou proeminente evidenciando alta perda de solo devido à concentração de água oriunda da camada impermeabilizada urbana e da falta de controle da velocidade do escoamento superficial da água. Em contraste, o fator cobertura vegetal mostrou maior atuação nas áreas de vegetação permanente, localizadas principalmente nas nascentes e canais de escoamento. Nas áreas mais convexas do terreno, localizadas nos divisores de águas, a atuação do fator erodibilidade foi proeminente, em contraste com o fator topográfico, este em áreas côncavas de maior declividade. Foram observadas ainda áreas com atuação conjunta dos fatores topográfico e erodibilidade, refletindo locais de inclinação mais suave, porém com alto potencial natural de erosão. Os resultados das análises multivariadas e geoestatística permitiram uma estratificação da área estudada identificando locais com propriedades específicas quanto à perda de solo o que contribui na compreensão do processo erosivo para a aplicação das práticas conservacionistas / Because of the importance of headwater watersheds of the Córrego do Tijuco-SP its soil loss was estimated by the USLE and the spatial variability of the erosion process factors was investigated by multivariate analysis and geostatistics. The estimated average soil loss was considered high, 118.50 Mg ha-1ano-1, and Pearson correlation confirmed the soil erodibility factor as the most important factor in the erosion process. Erodibility is conditioned by the local distribution of soil particle-size fractions and organic matter, and soil texture mostly medium/sandy of low cohesion. Near urban areas, the interaction of rainfall erosivity factor and conservation practices factor showed prominent high soil loss due to concentration of water coming from urban soil impermeabilization and the lack of speed control of runoff water. In contrast, the vegetation cover factor showed great performance in the areas of permanent vegetation, mainly located in the headwaters and drainage channels. In areas of more convex topography close to the watershed dividers, the action of erodibility factor was prominent, in contrast to concave areas of greater slope where the topographic factor was more prominent. We also observed areas with joint action of topographic factors and soil erodibility factor, with smoother topography, but with high natural potential of erosion. Results of multivariate and geostatistics analysis enabled to stratify the study area by identifying sites with specific properties of soil loss which helps in understanding the erosion process for the implementation of conservation practices

Previous studies have shown that soil erodibility and critical shear stress are highly influenced by weathering processes such as freeze-thaw cycling and wet-dry cycling. Despite over forty years of research attributing changes in soil properties over time to climate-dependent variables, little quantitative information is available on the relationships between streambank erodibility and critical shear stress and environmental conditions and processes that enhance streambank erosion potential. The goal of this study was to investigate temporal changes in streambank erodibility and critical shear stress due to surface weathering. Soil erodibility and critical shear stress were measured monthly in situ using a multi-angle submerged jet test device. Environmental and soil data were also collected directly at the streambank surface to determine freeze-thaw cycles, soil moisture, soil temperature, bulk density, soil erodibility, critical shear stress, and other atmospheric conditions that could impact bank erosion potential. Statistical tests, including a nonparametric alternative to ANOVA and multiple comparison tests, were used to determine if temporal changes in soil erosion potential were greater than spatial differences. Regression analyses were also utilized to identify the factors contributing to possible changes in soil erodibility, critical shear stress, and bulk density. The nonparametric alternative to ANOVA in combination with Dunn's nonparametric multiple comparison test showed soil erodibility was significantly higher (p=0.024) during the winter (November - March) and the spring/fall (April - May, September - October). Regression analyses showed 70 percent of soil erodibility variance was attributed to freeze-thaw cycling alone. Study results also indicated that bulk density is highly influenced by climate changes since gravimetric water content and freeze-thaw cycles combined explain as much as 86 percent of the variance in bulk density measurements. Results of this study show significant amounts of variation in the resistance of streambank soils to fluvial erosion can be attributed to subaerial processes, specifically changes in soil moisture and temperature. These results have potential implications for streambank modeling and restoration projects that assume constant values for soil erodibility. Watershed models and restoration designs should consider the implications of changing soil erodibility during the year in model development and stream restoration designs. / Master of Science

The multiangle submerged jet test device (JTD) provides a simple in situ method of measuring streambank critical shear stress (Ï c) and soil erodibility (kd). Previous research showed streambank kd and Ï c can vary by up to four orders of magnitude at a single site; therefore, it is essential to determine if the large range is due to natural variability in soil properties or errors due to the test method. The study objectives were to evaluate the repeatability of the JTD and determine how it compares to traditional flume studies. To evaluate the repeatability, a total of 21 jet tests were conducted on two remolded soils, a clay loam and clay, compacted at uniform moisture content to a bulk density of 1.53 g/cm^3 and 1.46 g/cm^3, respectively. To determine the similarity between JTD and a traditional measurement method, JTD Ï c and kd measurements were compared with measurements determined from flume tests. The JTD kd and Ï c ranged from 1.68-2.81 cm³/N-s and 0.28-0.79 Pa, respectively, for the clay loam and 1.36-2.69 cm³/N-s and 0.30-2.72 Pa, respectively, for the clay. The modest variation of kd and Ï c for the remolded soils suggests the JTD is repeatable, indicating the wide range of parameters measured in the field was a result of natural soil variability. The JTD median kd and Ï c, except clay loam kd (clay loam kd = 2.31 cm^3/N-s, Ï c = 0.45 Pa; clay kd = 2.18 cm^3/N-s, Ï c = 1.10 Pa) were significantly different than the flume values (clay loam kd = 2.43 cm³/N-s, Ï c = 0.23 Pa; clay kd = 4.59 cm³/N-s, Ï c = 0.16 Pa); however, considering the range of potential errors in both test methods, the findings indicate the multiangle submerged jet test provides reasonable measurement of erosion parameters in a field setting. / Master of Science

Estimates of bank erosion typically require field measurements to determine the soil erodibility since soil characteristics are highly variable between sites, especially for cohesive soils. The submerged jet test device is an in situ method of determining the critical shear stress and soil erodibility of cohesive soils. A constant velocity jet, applied perpendicular to the soil surface, creates a scour hole which is measured at discrete time intervals. While the results of these tests are able to provide values of critical shear stress and soil erodibility, the results are often highly variable and do not consider certain aspects of scour phenomena found in cohesive soils. Jet test measurements taken on the lower Roanoke River showed that the results varied for samples from similar sites and bulk failures of large areas of soil were common on the clay banks. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be used to determine the effect of scour hole shape changes on the applied shear stress. Previous calculation methods assumed that the depth of the scour hole was the only parameter that affected the applied shear stress. The analysis of the CFD models showed that depth did heavily influence the maximum shear stress applied to the soil boundary. However, the scour hole shape had an impact on the flow conditions near the jet centerline and within the scour hole. Wide, shallow holes yielded results that were similar to the flat plate, therefore it is recommended that field studies only use jet test results from wide, shallow holes to determine the coefficient of erodibility and the critical shear stress of cohesive soils. / Master of Science

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T15:50:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGMS14DA019.pdf: 1880244 bytes, checksum: 752a05f9ba75eca1fc9334e3c2f99360 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-16 / Rainfall soil erosion is influenced by rainfall and soil characteristics, relief forms, soil cover and management including cropping systems, and by conservation practices. The conservation planning demands the knowledge of the influence of erosive capacity of rainfall, soil resistance to erosion, soil management and cultivation on the water erosion. In a long term study, the quantification of these factors is also used to estimate the parameters of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), whose model is used worldwide to predict soil losses and support the conservation planning at a local scale. The present study determined the rainfall erosivity (R factor) and soil erodibility (K factor) of the USLE num Cambissolo Húmico, for Lages, State of Santa Catarina, and soil and water losses in the different soil management systems, in an long term experiment conducted at the Center of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences of Lages. With the aid of daily rainfall charts, we generated 107 erosivity indices, which were correlated to the soil losses collected in the standard USLE plot, resulting from respective rainfall. Soil losses in the systems of no-tillage, reduced tillage, and conventional tillage were collected in the same experiment during the period 1993-2012. The field experiment was developed under natural rainfall, in 3.5 x 22.1 plots with runoff collection systems. The measurements were performed after each erosion event. We evaluated the following treatments: conventional tillage (CT) with one plowing + two diskings; reduced tillage (RT) with one chiseling + one disking; and no-tillage (NT) without soil preparation; and one treatment with one plowing + two diskings but without crops, bare soil (BS), which represented the standard USLE plot. The erosion index (R factor) recommended for Lages is the EI30, whose annual average is 5,033 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 and of this value, 66 % take place between September and February. This erosivity value has an estimated return period of two years, that is, 50 % probability of occurrence. The annual erodibility estimated by the quotient and by simple linear regression between soil loss and erosivity was 0.0175 and 0.0172 Mg ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1, respectively. The erodibility in the spring-summer and fall-winter periods showed small variations relative to the annual average. The monthly erodibility ranged from 0.0083 Mg ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1 in December to 0.0241 Mg ha h ha- 1 MJ-1 mm-1 in April. Soil losses in the treatments with crops were strongly affected by the management system, while water losses were only moderately affected. Average soil losses were 85.29; 6.41; 2; and 0.82 Mg ha-1 year-1, in the treatments BS, CT, RT and NT, respectively, whereas water losses in these treatments were 38, 24, 15 and 9 % of the of the annual rainfall, respectively. Soil losses of the treatments BS and CT were highly influenced by erosivity, while those of RT and NT were more influenced by the rainfall and runoff volume. Water losses were strongly influenced by the rainfall volume and by the time of the year, in all treatments / A erosão hídrica pluvial do solo é influenciada pelas características da chuva e do solo, pela forma do relevo, pela cobertura e manejo do solo incluindo os sistemas de cultivo, e pelas práticas conservacionistas. O planejamento conservacionista requer o conhecimento da influência da capacidade erosiva das chuvas, da resistência do solo à erosão e do manejo e cultivo do solo sobre a erosão hídrica. Em pesquisas de longo prazo sobre erosão do solo, a quantificação destes fatores é utilizada também para gerar parâmetros da Equação Universal de Perda de Solo (USLE), cujo modelo é utilizado para predizer as perdas de solo e subsidiar o planejamento conservacionista localmente. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar os fatores erosividade das chuvas (fator R) e erodibilidade do solo (fator K) da USLE num Cambissolo Húmico, para Lages, SC, bem como as perdas de solo e água em diferentes sistemas de manejo do solo, em experimento de longa duração conduzido no Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias de Lages, SC. Utilizando pluviogramas diários, foram gerados 107 índices de erosividade, os quais foram correlacionados com as perdas de solo coletadas na parcela padrão da USLE resultantes das respectivas chuvas. As perdas de solo nos sistemas de manejo semeadura direta, cultivo mínimo e preparo convencional foram coletadas no mesmo experimento durante os anos de 1993 a 2012. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, sob chuva natural, em parcelas de 3,5 x 22,1 m dotadas de sistemas coletores de enxurrada, sendo as determinações realizadas após cada evento erosivo. Estudaram-se os tratamentos com cultivo do solo sob rotação de culturas: preparo convencional (PC) com uma aração + duas gradagens; preparo redizido (PR) com uma escarificação + uma gradagem; e semeadura direta (SD) sem preparo do solo; e um tratamento com uma aração + duas gradagens sem cultivo (SC) que se constituiu na parcela padrão da USLE. O índice erosivo (fator R) recomendado para Lages (SC) é o EI30, cuja média anual é 5.033 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 e, deste valor, 66 % ocorre entre setembro e fevereiro. Este valor de erosividade tem período de retorno estimado em dois anos, ou seja, 50 % de probabilidade de ocorrência. O valor de erodibilidade anual estimado pelo quociente e por regressão linear simples entre as perdas de solo e as erosividades, foi respectivamente de 0,0175 e 0,0172 Mg ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1. A erodibilidade nos períodos de primaveraverão e outono-inverno apresentou pequenas variações em relação à média anual. A erodibilidade mensal variou de 0,0083 Mg ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1 no mês de dezembro a 0,0241 Mg ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1 no mês de abril. As perdas de solo nos tratamentos com cultivo foram fortemente influenciadas pelo sistema de manejo, enquanto as perdas de água sofreram apenas efeito moderado. As perdas médias de solo foram de 85,29; 6,41; 2; e 0,82 Mg ha-1 ano-1, nos tratamentos SC, PC, PR e SD, respectivamente, enquanto, as perdas de água nestes tratamentos representaram respectivamente 38, 24, 15 e 9 % da precipitação pluviométrica anual. As perdas de solo dos tratamentos SC e PC sofreram maior influência da erosividade, enquanto as do PR e SD foram mais influenciados pelo volume de chuva e de enxurrada. As perdas de água foram fortemente influenciadas pelo volume de chuva e pela época do ano, em todos os sistemas de manejo do solo

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-01-19T19:21:30Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Disssertação - Diego Emanoel Rodrigues - 2016.pdf: 4228559 bytes, checksum: e10d2a85e80b762539d34e79807b36d4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-20T14:42:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Disssertação - Diego Emanoel Rodrigues - 2016.pdf: 4228559 bytes, checksum: e10d2a85e80b762539d34e79807b36d4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-20T14:42:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Disssertação - Diego Emanoel Rodrigues - 2016.pdf: 4228559 bytes, checksum: e10d2a85e80b762539d34e79807b36d4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-04 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Over time, the human societies have developed and increased their capacity of spatially reorganize the elements of the environment that surrounds them. Thus, the human intervention has become one of the engaging agents of the landscape, along with the physical and biological processes. This means that human activities influence and accelerate the erosion processes. Specifically, laminar erosion is a form of manifestation of the hydric erosion that occurs silently, depleting the soil fertility, gradually, over time. For this reason, Bertoni and Lombardi Neto (2014) emphasize that this type of erosion is one of the most dangerous, especially in countries with tropical climates. From this, we aim to do a diagnosis of natural susceptibility and of laminar erosion potential in the basin of the Ribeirão of Boqueirão, in the municipality of Davinópolis (GO), in order to investigate how the current land use/ vegetal cover influence to increase, mitigate or neutralize the natural susceptibility to laminar erosion in this basin. The methodology was based predominantly on adapting of the proposal of Salomão (1999), which determined a correlation matrix between the slopes declivity and the soil erodibility, for generating cartographic document indicating the natural susceptibility to laminar erosion. When it was overlaid on the map of land use / vegetal cover, resulted in the current potential map to laminar erosion. In the basin of Ribeirão of Boqueirão, which in general has dissected topography, we observed a high percentage of areas with high natural susceptibility to laminar erosion, which imposes restrictions for agricultural activities. The areas with lower natural susceptibility to laminar erosion are near to the main watercourse, in the central part of this basin. With respect to land use / vegetal cover, overall, it was not verified adoption of conservation measures and/ or harmonization of human activities to natural limitations to laminar erosion. Thus, the class I, with high laminar erosion potential, was mapped in 37.72% of the watershed area and, in general, points to areas where the land use is incompatible with natural limitations. In the meantime, the class II (medium potential) appeared in 45.33% of the watershed area, in which case there is incompatibility between the land use and natural susceptibility, which can be solved with the use of conservation practices. In the rest of the watershed, 16.95%, there is class III (low potential). The data presented show the need for planning that seeks to conserve the soil of this watershed, which also is one of the largest basins, fully located in the municipality of Davinópolis (GO). One should highlight that the families of farmers, when exploring the lands of this watershed, ensure their socio-economic reproduction and contribute to the economic dynamics of the municipality of Davinópolis, which has the agricultural production as an important pillar. / As sociedades humanas ao longo do tempo desenvolveram e aumentaram a sua capacidade de reorganizar espacialmente os elementos do meio que as envolve. Dessa forma, a intervenção antrópica se tornou um dos agentes dinamizadores da paisagem, juntamente com os processos físicos e biológicos. Isso implica dizer que as atividades humanas influem e aceleram os processos de erosão. Especificamente, a erosão laminar é uma forma de manifestação da erosão hídrica que ocorre de forma silenciosa ao depauperar a fertilidade do solo, de forma gradativa, ao longo do tempo. Por esse motivo Bertoni e Lombardi Neto (2014) enfatizam que esse tipo de erosão é uma das formas mais perigosas, especialmente, nos países de clima tropical. A partir disso se propôs realizar o diagnóstico da suscetibilidade natural e do potencial à erosão laminar na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão do Boqueirão, no município de Davinópolis (GO), com a finalidade de constatar como o atual uso da terra/cobertura vegetal influi para aumentar, amenizar ou neutralizar a suscetibilidade natural à erosão laminar nessa bacia hidrográfica. A metodologia se baseou, de forma predominante, na adaptação da proposta de Salomão (1999), que determinou uma matriz de correlação entre a declividade das encostas e a erodibilidade dos solos para a geração de documento cartográfico que indica a suscetibilidade natural à erosão laminar, que por sua vez, ao ser sobreposto ao mapa de uso da terra/cobertura vegetal, resulta no mapa de potencial atual à erosão laminar. Na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão do Boqueirão, que apresenta, de forma geral, relevo dissecado, observou-se elevado percentual de áreas com alto grau de suscetibilidade natural à erosão laminar, o que impõe restrições às atividades agrícolas. As áreas com menor suscetibilidade natural à erosão laminar se encontram próximas ao curso hídrico principal, na parte central dessa Bacia Hidrográfica. Quanto ao uso da terra/cobertura vegetal, não se verificou, de forma geral, adoção de medidas conservacionistas e/ou harmonização das atividades antrópicas às limitações naturais à erosão laminar. Assim, a classe I, de alto potencial à erosão laminar, foi mapeada em 37,72% da área da bacia hidrográfica e de forma geral aponta para regiões onde o uso da terra é incompatível às limitações naturais. Enquanto isso, a classe II (médio potencial) apareceu em 45,33% da área da bacia hidrográfica, e nesse caso ainda há incompatibilidade entre o uso da terra e a suscetibilidade natural, passível de ser resolvida com a utilização de práticas conservacionistas. O restante da bacia hidrográfica, 16,95%, se encontra a classe III (baixo potencial). Esses dados expostos revelam a necessidade de um planejamento que busque conservar o solo dessa bacia hidrográfica, que inclusive é uma das maiores bacias, integralmente localizadas no município de Davinópolis (GO). Destaca-se, ainda, que as famílias de agricultores, ao explorar as terras dessa bacia hidrográfica, garantem sua reprodução socioeconômica, além de contribuírem para a dinâmica econômica do município de Davinópolis, que tem na produção agropecuária um importante pilar de sustentação.

Currently there is no suitable and commonly used device for volumetric quantification of snowmelt erosion in the Czech Republic (CR). The determination of erosion rate in the catchment is a essential prerequisite for the correct design of conservation measures. The thesis tries to offer the possible ways of monitoring the snowmelt erosion, compares individual methods and defines their optimal use. In the first year of the research, a runoff plot was developed to capture sheet erosion. The thesis compares also the methods using mobile devices - erosion bridge method and UAV photogrammetry - as effective instrument for snowmelt erosion monitoring. So far, no attention has been paid to snowmelt erosion in CR. Therefore, the thesis focuses mainly on the analysis of causal factors specific to this type of erosion - the erosion potential of snow cover and the possible soil erodibility changes due to freeze-thaw cycles. The thesis assesses the rate of snowmelt erosion risk in selected climatically different catchments and its changes in recent years. shows the timeliness of the problem. In the end, the thesis presents possibilities for solving the problem. The thesis claims the problem of snowmelt erosion actual and offers its possible solution.

Soil erosion has been recognized as an increasing threat to the environment and humans worldwide as anthropogenic activities have accelerated the soil degradation rate. In Sweden, it is estimated that 15% of the arable land is affected by soil erosion, and studies have shown that fields in the south of Sweden lose a substantial amount of soil under certain weather conditions. However, few studies have investigated current soil erosion rates and sediment yield on a large scale, focusing on Sweden. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the annual soil erosion for all erodible surfaces in the southern half of Sweden and calculate the sediment load emitted into adjacent seas. I here applied the RUSLE model, which is the most widely used soil erosion model worldwide. The model required secondary data of precipitation, soil properties, LULC, and topography.The findings showed that most erodible surfaces in the study area eroded less than 0.5 t ha-1y-1. However, it varied considerably in both space and time. The catchments on the western part of the study area had, in general, a higher mean value than watersheds on the eastern coast. The total sediment load entering the Baltic Sea was 123500 t y-1, while Skagerrak and Kattegat's load was approximately 20% higher. Higher soil erodibility, rainfall erosivity, and steeper slope gradient in these regions could partly explain the spatial pattern. Large temporal variabilities in rainfall erosivity indicated that soil erosion and sediment transportation mainly occurred during the summer. However, previous research suggests that other erosive processes have a more significant impact on soil erosion than rainfall. Thus, the RUSLE may not predict the full extent of soil erosion occurring in the study area. Nevertheless, since there is no previous large-scale estimate of soil erosion in Sweden, it provides insights into the potential risks and extent of rainfall-induced erosion.

Desertification is a serious problem in environments where it occurs, namely in dry lands (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas). This type of degradation affects about one quarter of the land surface, with implications for environmental, economic, political, social and cultural order. The areas in Brazil susceptible to this process are located in the northeast region which is characterized by low rainfall index, high temperatures, severe water deficit, shallow and rocky soils and xerophytic vegetation. São Raimundo Nonato, which is the object of this study, is located in the semi-arid region of Piaui and is a susceptible area to desertification. This has led to the study of degradation / desertification in this area in order to assess the risk of physical deterioration and effective degradation. The risk of physical deterioration was evaluated using the following indicators: climate, rainfall erosivity, erodibility of soils and slopeness. The effective degradation was assessed by considering the indicators discussed above combined with the NDVI of the years 1987 and 2007. The results indicate that 8.3%, 81% and 10.7% of the area are at risk of a low, moderate and high physical deterioration. The effective degradation, taking into account the NDVI for 1987, indicates that 70% and 30% of the area have respectively moderate and high degradation. For the year 2007, the data indicate that 71% and 29% of the area have respectively moderate and high effective degradation. These data reveal a dynamic ecological equilibrium with a subtle trend of improvement in terms of environmental degradation, that is , in the process of desertification in the studied area, since there is a reduction of the class of high effective degradation. The decline and economic stagnation in the area were found during the analysis of major crops and effective livestock . These data revealed a decline in the planted area, productivity and effective livestock, both in number of heads and / or unit of animals. The decline of these indicators corroborates the statement of improvement of environmental conditions in the studied area. / A desertificação constitui um grave problema nos ambientes em que ocorre, qual seja as Terras Secas (áridas, semiáridas e subúmidas secas). Esse tipo de degradação afeta cerca de 1/4 da superfície terrestre, com implicações de ordem ambiental, econômica, política, social e cultural. No Brasil as áreas suscetíveis a esse processo localizam-se na região Nordeste caracterizada por baixos índices pluviométricos, elevadas temperaturas médias, acentuado déficit hídrico, solos rasos e pedregosos e vegetação xerofítica. O Núcleo de São Raimundo Nonato, objeto deste estudo, localizado no semi-árido piauiense constitui área suscetível à desertificação. Esta constatação conduziu ao estudo da degradação/desertificação desta área com o objetivo de avaliar o risco de degradação física e a degradação efetiva. O risco de degradação física foi avaliado a partir dos seguintes indicadores: índice climático, erosividade das chuvas, erodibilidade dos solos e a declividade. A degradação efetiva foi avaliada considerando os indicadores anteriormente citados combinados ao NDVI dos anos de 1987 e 2007. Os resultados indicam que 8,3%, 81% e 10,7% da área apresentam risco de degradação física baixo, moderado e alto. A degradação efetiva, considerando o NDVI para 1987, indica que 70% e 30% da área apresenta respectivamente degradação moderada e alta. Para o ano de 2007, os dados indicam que 71% e 29% da área apresenta respectivamente degradação efetiva moderada e alta. Esses dados revelam uma situação de equilíbrio ecológico dinâmico com uma sutil tendência de melhoria nas condições de degradação ambiental, ou seja, no processo de desertificação da área de estudo, posto a redução da classe de alta degradação efetiva. O declínio e a estagnação econômica da área foram constatados quando da analise das principais culturas e do efetivo de rebanhos. Esses dados revelaram redução da área plantada, da produtividade e do efetivo dos rebanhos em número de cabeças e de unidades animais. A queda desses indicadores corrobora a afirmativa de melhoria das condições ambientais da área de estudo.