TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF LAND USE AND COVERAGE IN THE SPRING AREA OF THE MAIN BED OF THE UPPER COURSE OF THE APODÍ MOSSORÓ RIVER WITH SUPPORT IN GEOTECHNOLOGIES (1987 - 2021)
GIS, Remote sensing, Springs, watershed, environment
The Apodi-Mossoró River basin covers an area of 14,276 km², corresponding to 26.8% of the estimated area of the state. It is inserted in the region where the caatinga biome predominates. The watershed of the Apodi-Mossoró River is genuinely Potiguar, from its source in the Luís Gomes mountains to its mouth, between the municipalities of Areia Branca and Grossos, covering approximately 210 km along this path. It has 618 dams, totaling a volume of 27.4 and 10.7 of the total dams and accumulated volumes in the state. The study and analysis of such springs is essential to understand and enable ways to minimize the negative environmental impacts caused over time in these areas. It is taken into account that the environmental impact caused by man does not occur on such a short time scale. And, for this reason, the study aims to analyze the use and land cover in areas of headwaters of the upper course of the Apodi-Mossoró River, in the period between 1987 and 2021, investigating the extent to which human action caused changes in the environment. . After analysis, mitigation measures are proposed aiming at a better preservation/conservation of these areas.