DETERMINAÇÃO DOS PERÍODOS CRÍTICOS DE OCORRÊNCIA DE INCÊNDIOS FLORESTAIS NA ESTAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA DO SERIDÓ, SERRA NEGRA DO NORTE-RN

Abstract

The Caatinga is one of the richest Brazilian biomes, however its biodiversity is constantly threatened by human activities, especially the use of fire for cleaning and/or increase areas for agricultural activities. In this study, it's determined the months and the days with highest risk of forest fires in the Seridó Ecological Station in Serra Negra do Norte-RN and was developed with daily data of precipitation and relative humidity of the years 1999-2004, collected in the Climatological Station, through Monte Alegre Formula. The results show that in January, February, March, April and May, the rainy season in the region, are the months with the lowest fire danger, are classified as null to very high risk, while August, September, October, November and December, dry season in the region, reached the highest degree of danger, being classified as high to very high risk. During the study period almost 75% of days had high to very high fire hazard while the levels null and small together reached more than 13%, more occurring in the months January to April.