AVHRR'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN BRAZIL 
Alberto W. Setzer, 
S. Amaral, A.E. Fernandes, 
D. C. Figueiredo, H. Franga, 
A. C. D. M. Mantovani,A. C. Prerira Jr. 
M. C. Pereira, R. Sobral 
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE 
Divisdo de Sensoriamento Remoto e Meteorologia Espacial - DSM 
Caixa Postal 515 
12201-970 - Säo José dos Campos - SP, Brazil 
ISPRS VII Comission VII/Working Group 5 
e Was 
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|. TM ABSTRACT 
ained 
R, G Many unique and novel real-time applications of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer 
(AVHRR) on-board the NOAA-series satellites were developed in Brazil in recent years. This paper 
summarizes the main results achieved with the 1.1 km full resolution images through a precise navigation 
algorithm, a digital mosaic capability, and integration with a Geographical Information System. Fire 
detection using channel 3 (3.7 um) images revealed the biomass burning problem and brought their 
control as well as a strong reduction in deforestation rates. Vegetation index mosaic images combining 
channels 1 (0.6 - 0.7 um) and 2 (0.7 - 1.1 um) allow the monitoring of droughts in the northeast 
supporting decision-taking policies. Channel 3 images also provide detection of new deforestation sites in 
the Amazon Forest as well as estimates of fire-scar sizes in Cerrado vegetation. Combined with aerosol 
and gas measurements from field missions the images provide order-of-magnitude estimates of biomass 
burning emissions. 
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