Impact of desertification on the hydrological dynamics of the Japaratuba River Basin in the Médio Sertão Sergipano

Abstract

Mapping areas undergoing soil degradation processes is crucial for maintaining hydrological dynamics and ecosystem flows. Thus, this research aims to determine the region affected by desertification and its possible impacts on the Japaratuba River Basin, in the Médio Sertão Sergipano, correlating the set of natural characteristics of the environment with anthropogenic factors. To this end, maps of climate division, precipitation, pedology, geomorphology, and land use were compiled from freely accessible georeferenced databases. For the quantitative analysis of hydrological dynamics, the water balance of the municipalities in 2019 was performed and the Medalus model was applied to obtain an estimate of the sensitivity index to desertification. The natural characterization of the region (climate, pedology, and geomorphology) was integrated with anthropogenic modifications (land use), obtaining a desertification index of 1.22. This result indicates that the region is potentially affected by the desertification process; and the water balance indicated the differences between the wet and dry periods. In the wet period, the water surplus was positive, however, in the dry period, the water present in the soil did not meet the ecosystem demands, indicating a critical water situation. This analysis indicated the potential for the occurrence of the desertification process with impacts on the intensification of soil erosion processes and drought in the hydrological and ecosystem dynamics.