Greenhouse gas emissions in the Brazilian semiarid region: environmental, climate and social constraints

Abstract

In recent decades, the impacts of anthropogenic changes on the environment have significantly altered the terrestrial ecosystem, and as a result the cycle of the main nutrients in the biosphere has been radically modified. Studies about changes in the cycling of carbon and nitrogen and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) caused by land use changes are quite different between different regions. Some areas still need better knowledge of their ecosystems. This is the case of the Brazilian Northeast region, where estimates of GHG emissions are still uncertain. The semi-arid northeastern region is considered the most vulnerable to potential climate change. Based on such facts, the objectives of this proposal of Postdoctoral work are: (a) to estimate the emissions of the main greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O and CH4) caused by land use changes in an area of Caatinga biome through the model INPE-EM, and (b) to quantify the concentrations of species of nitrogen derived from atmospheric deposition of this element, caused by various anthropogenic processes (burning biomass, fertilization, etc.). We hope to identify specific and integrated emissions of GHG, the stocks and flows of C and N, and N deposition in order to contribute to the current information about greenhouse gases dynamic in the Caatinga and also to enhance future regional and national GHG inventories. (AU)