Microclimate alterations and thermal profile in the quilombola territory of Morro de São João, Tocantins, Brazil

Abstract

The Quilombola Community Morro de São João, in southern Tocantins State, Brazil, was recognized in 2006, although its land regularization process has not yet been completed. Due to this, its territory started to be incorporated by agribusiness, mainly by cattle raising and soybean farming, resulting in environmental changes related to new forms of land occupation, use and cover. The removal of vegetation of the Cerrado biome is one of the factors perceived by quilombolas to change the climate, with emphasis on the rise in air temperatures. Considering this situation, this paper focused on the microclimatic approach through mobile transects across that territory, with an emphasis on air temperature. More specifically, we sought to investigate the relationship of these temperatures with the landscape around the collection points, considering their uses by quilombolas or agribusiness. Data were registered in episodes in the four seasons of the year, between 2019 and 2020. The results revealed particularities according to the times of the day, the period of the year, the types of weather and the use and coverage of the soil during the route. It is possible to highlight the occurrence of higher temperatures in the afternoon over areas used for crops and pastures (episodes averages above 35°C, compared to averages in the range of 33°C and 34°C in quilombola and Cerrado areas), especially under conditions of atmospheric stability. At night, the values tend to remain subtly higher over the housing areas of the quilombolas, among other reasons for the greater heat retention (episode averages in the range of 25°C, compared to averages in the range of 24°C in areas under the domain of agribusiness and Cerrado areas). Thus, environmental changes related to diferent appropriations of the territory are reflected in the microclimate mosaic, which leads us to think about the quality of life and the role of native vegetation for traditional communities.