Due to the scarcity of studies linking the variability of rainfall and population growth in the capital cities of Northeastern Brazil (NEB), the purpose of this study is to evaluate the variability and multiscale interaction (annual and seasonal), and in addition, to detect their trends and the impact of urban growth. For this, monthly rainfall data between 1960 and 2020 were used. In addition, the detection of rainfall trends on annual and seasonal scales was performed using the Mann–Kendall (MK) test and compared with the phases of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The relationship between population growth data and rainfall data for different decades was established. Results indicate that the variability of multiscale urban rainfall is directly associated with the ENSO and PDO phases, followed by the performance of rain-producing meteorological systems in the NEB. In addition, the anthropic influence is shown in the relational pattern between population growth and the variability of decennial rainfall in the capitals of the NEB. However, no capital showed a significant trend of increasing annual rainfall (as in the case of Aracaju, Maceió, and Salvador). The observed population increase in the last decades in the capitals of the NEB and the notable decreasing trend of rainfall could compromise the region’s water security. Moreover, if there is no strategic planning about water bodies, these changes in the rainfall pattern could be compromising.

Forest fires destroy productive land throughout the world. In Brazil, mainly the Northeast of Brazil (NEB) is strongly affected by forest fires and bush fires. Similarly, there is no adequate study of long-term data from ground and satellite-based estimation of fire foci in NEB. The objectives of this study are: (i) to evaluate the spatiotemporal estimation of fires in NEB biomes via environmental satellites during the long term over 1998–2018, and (ii) to characterize the environmental degradation in the NEB biomes via orbital products during 1998–2018, obtained from the Burn Database (BDQueimadas) for 1794 municipalities. The spatiotemporal variation is estimated statistically (descriptive, exploratory and multivariate statistics) from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) through the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation Station (CHIRPS). Moreover, we identify 10 homogeneous groups of fire foci (G1–G10) with a total variance of 76.5%. The G1 group is the most extended group, along with the G2 group, the exception being the G3 group. Similarly, the G4–G10 groups have a high percentage of hotspots, with more values in the municipality of Grajaú, which belongs to the agricultural consortium. The gradient of fire foci from the coast to the interior of the NEB is directly associated with land use/land cover (LULC) changes, where the sparse vegetation category and areas without vegetation are mainly involved. The Caatinga and Cerrado biomes lose vegetation, unlike the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes. The fires detected in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes are the result of agricultural consortia. Additionally, the two periods 2003–2006 and 2013–2018 show periods of severe and prolonged drought due to the action of El Niño.

O trabalho aborda a caracterização do regime de vento em diversos setores da Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro (RMRJ), evidenciando a influência do ciclo diário e dos aspectos topográficos nas circulações locais. Na avaliação do padrão de vento foram utilizados dados horários provenientes de estações meteorológicas automáticas de superfície, organizados em gráficos de frequência de vento para o ciclo diário. Finalmente, os resultados evidenciam a modulação da circulação local de acordo com a atuação do sistema de brisa marítima-terrestre. Pode-se destacar a ocorrência de elevados percentuais de calmaria na estação Afonsos, caracterizando-a como uma região de estagnação, influenciada principalmente pelas feições topográficas locais. Este estudo disponibiliza um importante detalhamento da orientação e frequência do vento próximo à superfície, oferecendo subsídios adicionais às autoridades públicas para o aperfeiçoamento de suas políticas de gestão ambiental para a região.

Burns are common practices in Brazil and cause major fires, especially in the Legal Amazon. This study evaluated the dynamics of the fire foci in the Legal Amazon in Brazil and their consequences on environmental degradation, particularly in the transformation of the forest into pasture, in livestock and agriculture areas, mining activities and urbanization. The fire foci data were obtained from the reference satellites of the BDQueimadas of the CPTEC/INPE for the period June 1998–May 2022. The data obtained were subjected to descriptive and exploratory statistical analysis, followed by a comparison with the PRODES data during 2004–2021, the DETER data (2016–2019) and the ENSO phases during the ONI index for the study area. Biophysical parameters were used in the assessment of environmental degradation. The results showed that El Niño’s years of activity and the years of extreme droughts (2005, 2010 and 2015) stand out with respect to significant increase in fire foci. Moreover, the significant numbers of fire foci indices during August, September, October and November were recorded as 23.28%, 30.91%, 15.64% and 10.34%, respectively, and these were even more intensified by the El Niño episodes. Biophysical parameters maps showed the variability of the fire foci, mainly in the south and west part of the Amazon basin referring to the Arc of Deforestation. Similarly, the states of Mato Grosso, Pará and Amazonas had the highest alerts from PRODES and DETER, and in the case of DETER, primarily mining and deforestation (94.3%) increased the environmental degradation. The use of burns for agriculture and livestock, followed by mining and wood extraction, caused the degradation of the Amazon biome.

Realizaram-se avaliações climatológicas, sazonais e diárias, da estabilidade atmosférica na região da Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto (CNAAA), Angra dos Reis - RJ. A climatológica foi baseada no critério de Pasquill-Gifford (P-G) para um período de 26 anos (1980-2006) e a sazonal-diária pelos números de Richardson Global (RiB) e de Froude (Fr) - estudo de caso (2002-05). O Fr foi usado na caracterização do escoamento da região. O critério de P-G mostrou que as classes predominantes foram D, E e F (no período noturno e diurno). Avaliaram-se as classes predominantes com a direção e velocidade do vento, os setores mais freqüentes foram S, SSW, SSE no período diurno e N, NNE, NNW e E no noturno. Quanto à velocidade verificou-se que a classe D foi mais veloz, e as classes E e F menos velozes, em qualquer período. As maiores velocidades foram coincidentes com a brisa marítima. Baseado no RiB, a condição estaticamente estável prevaleceu em comparação às demais, sendo de 79%, seguida da instável (17%) e neutra (4%). O Fr indicou que o escoamento na CNAAA foi caracterizado por regime de vento fraco, com forte estabilidade e ar estagnado. A maior parte das ocorrências (63%) foi para Fr inferior a 0,1, seguida de poucas ocorrências nas categorias Fr igual a 1,0 (8%) e superior a 1,7 (12%). Os critérios utilizados na caracterização da estabilidade na região e na análise do regime de escoamento indicaram a baixa capacidade da atmosfera para a dispersão de poluentes, devido à predominância da condição estável e do regime de bloqueio.