Rail transportation plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation system, making a significant contribution to environmental impact mitigation due to the efficiency of passenger and freight rail transportation. Accurate assessment of carbon emissions resulting from rail transit is essential to quantify the positive impact of this mode of transportation on overall urban transport emission reduction. Given that measuring carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of rail transportation involves a wide array of factors, adopting a systematic framework for analyzing these aspects is crucial. This study conducts a comprehensive review of existing research related to carbon emissions in rail transportation and its mitigation. Initially, the distinct characteristics of carbon emissions associated with rail transportation are identified, along with the complexity involved in accurately measuring these emissions. Subsequently, a comparison and analysis are conducted regarding various models for measuring carbon emissions in rail transportation. Finally, the study examines some greenhouse gas emission measurement research within the railway system. Redirecting research efforts toward measuring carbon emissions in the rail transportation system is essential to help the development of robust and effective public policies. This measure will play a crucial role in emission reduction, climate change mitigation, and the promotion of more sustainable transportation. Furthermore, the identified results propose which LCA methodology offers a valuable framework improving the quality of railway transportation emissions for future generations.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is normally considered as the sum of all water that evaporates from the soil and transpires from plants. However, accurately estimating ET from complex landscapes can be difficult because of its high spatial heterogeneity and diversity of driver factors, which make extrapolation of data from a point to a larger area quite inaccurate. In this paper, we hypothesize that MODIS products can be of use to estimate ET in areas of Caatinga vegetation, the hydrology of which has not been adequately studied. The experiment was conducted in a preserved level area of Caatinga in which meteorological and water flux measures were taken throughout 2012 by eddy covariance. Evapotranspiration estimates from eddy covariance were compared with remotely sensed evapotranspiration estimates from MOD16A2 and SAFER products. Correlations were performed at monthly, 8-day, and daily scales; and producedr2values of monthly scale = 0.92, 8-day scale = 0.88, and daily scale = 0.85 for the SAFER algorithm. Monthly MOD16A2 data produced a value ofr2=0.82, and they may be useful because they are free, downloadable, and easy to use by researchers and governments.

In recent years, the issue of climate change has gained significant attention and become a focal point of discussion in various sectors of civil society. Governments, individuals, and scientists worldwide are increasingly concerned about the observed changes in climate patterns, often attributed to the rising levels of greenhouse gases. In this context, the main objective of this study is to assess the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the railway system in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and compare them with other national case studies, aiming to obtain greenhouse gas emission parameters specific to the railway system and propose mitigation models to address this environmental impact in the air. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to examine the life cycle of the Pernambuco Metro. This involved conducting an inventory of resource inputs and emissions using actual observed data. Additionally, a comparative analysis of greenhouse gas emissions across different urban rail transport systems is presented to provide valuable contextual insights. The study findings reveal that the total greenhouse gas emissions from the Pernambuco rail system amount to 6170.54 t CO₂e. Considering a projected total service life of 50 years, the estimated greenhouse gas emissions for the entire life cycle of the system’s operation and maintenance reach 308,550 t CO₂e. The interdisciplinary nature of this research highlights the significance of studying the atmospheric effects of the Pernambuco railway system as a crucial parameter for designing strategies and technologies aimed at reducing air pollution within the region. Through quantifying and analyzing the greenhouse gas emissions of the Pernambuco rail system, this study provides valuable insights that contribute to addressing concerns related to climate change and promoting sustainable practices. It underscores the importance of developing effective strategies to mitigate air pollution and facilitates informed decision-making for the future of urban transportation systems.

Resumo Diante do aumento das emissões dos gases do efeito estufa, o presente estudo analisou o sequestro de carbono em áreas de caatinga do município de Petrolina – PE, por meio de técnicas de sensoriamento remoto. Foram utilizadas imagens do sensor MODIS, referentes ao produto MOD17, o qual contém a estimativa da Produção primária bruta (GPP) e da Produção primária líquida (NPP). A coleta das imagens ocorreu para os anos de 2011 e 2012. No período chuvoso, as áreas de caatinga preservada apresentaram maiores valores de assimilação total (até 160 g C/m2 em janeiro de 2011) e sequestro de carbono, enquanto no final do período seco foram registrados valores inferiores a 20 g C/m2. Quanto ao total anual, em 2011 as áreas de caatinga preservada juntamente com a agricultura irrigada apresentaram os maiores valores de GPP (> 900 g C/m2), enquanto que em 2012 a GPP das áreas de caatinga variaram, em geral, de 500 a 600 g C/m2, com algumas áreas chegando a 700 g C/m2. A NPP, ou seja, o sequestro de carbono, variou de 500 a 700 g C/m2 em 2011 e de 100 a 400 g C/m2 em 2012. Desse modo, são necessárias medidas e elaboração de instrumentos políticos que visem à preservação dos remanescentes de caatinga do município de Petrolina, como forma de contribuir com mitigação do aquecimento global.