Space-time variability of vegetation by orbital platforms in the western Amazon

Abstract

Percentage maps of forest cover derived from the annual product MOD44B were compared with the annual deforestation data from PRODES. PRODES data were used to calibrate the MOD44B (sub-pixel-level representation of surface vegetation cover estimates globally) annual images with the aim of evaluating the annual characterization of the deforestation dynamics and forest regeneration in the municipality of Bujari - Acre, Brazil, from 2000 to 2010. The percentage rates from MODIS were divided into forest cover categories (forested and deforested areas) by means of the Mann-Kendall (MK) non-parametric test used in each category. The results were satisfactory when compared with PRODES. The analysis of MOD44B product in the municipality, during the years 2001, 2004 and 2009, shows that there was an increase of the pixel frequency in the "Extremely High" category, which indicates regeneration of the area in the municipality of Bujari. Validations in situ should be done primarily to the regenerate areas.