Burning in southwestern Brazilian Amazonia, 2016-2019.

Fire is one of the most powerful modifiers of the Amazonian landscape and knowledge about its drivers is needed for planning control and suppression. A plethora of factors may play a role in the annual dynamics of fire frequency, spanning the biophysical, climatic, socioeconomic and institutional dimensions. To uncover the main forces currently at play, we investigated the area burned in both forested and deforested areas in the outstanding case of Brazil's state of Acre, in southwestern Amazonia. We mapped burn scars in already-deforested areas and intact forest based on satellite images from the Landsat series analyzed between 2016 and 2019. The mapped burnings in already-deforested areas totalled 550,251 ha. In addition, we mapped three forest fires totaling 34,084 ha. Fire and deforestation were highly correlated, and the latter occurred mainly in federal government lands, with protected areas showing unprecedented forest fire levels in 2019. These results indicate that Acre state is under increased fire risk even during average rainfall years. The record fires of 2019 may continue if Brazil's ongoing softening of environmental regulations and enforcement is maintained. Acre and other Amazonian states must act quickly to avoid an upsurge of social and economic losses in the coming years.

Using satellite data to study the relationship between rainfall and diarrheal diseases in a Southwestern Amazon basin.

The North region is the second region in Brazil with the highest incidence rate of diarrheal diseases in children under 5 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between rainfall and water level during the rainy season principally with the incidence rate of this disease in a southwestern Amazon basin. Rainfall estimates and the water level were correlated and both of them were correlated with the diarrheal incidence rate. For the Alto Acre region, 2 to 3 days' time-lag is the best interval to observe the impact of the rainfall in the water level (R = 0.35). In the Lower Acre region this time-lag increased (4 days) with a reduction in the correlation value was found. The correlation between rainfall and diarrheal disease was better in the Lower Acre region (Acrelândia, R = 0.7) and rainfall upstream of the city. Between water level and diarrheal disease, the best results were found for the Brasiléia gauging station (Brasiléia, R = 0.3; Epitaciolândia, R = 0.5). This study's results may support planning and financial resources allocation to prioritize actions for local Civil Defense and health care services before, during and after the rainy season.

Using satellite data to study the relationship between rainfalland diarrheal diseases in a Southwestern Amazon basin / O uso de dados de satélite para estudar a relação entre chuvae doenças diarreicas em uma bacia na Amazônia Sul-Ocidental

The North region is the second regionin Brazil with the highest incidence rate of diarrhealdiseases in children under 5 years old. Theaim of this study was to investigate the relationshipbetween rainfall and water level during therainy season principally with the incidence rateof this disease in a southwestern Amazon basin.Rainfall estimates and the water level were correlatedand both of them were correlated with thediarrheal incidence rate. For the Alto Acre region,2 to 3 days time-lag is the best interval to observethe impact of the rainfall in the water level (R =0.35). In the Lower Acre region this time-lag increased(4 days) with a reduction in the correlationvalue was found. The correlation betweenrainfall and diarrheal disease was better in theLower Acre region (Acrelândia, R = 0.7) andrainfall upstream of the city. Between water leveland diarrheal disease, the best results were foundfor the Brasiléia gauging station (Brasiléia, R =0.3; Epitaciolândia, R = 0.5). This studys resultsmay support planning and financial resourcesallocation to prioritize actions for local Civil Defenseand health care services before, during andafter the rainy season (AU)

A região Norte é a segunda no Brasil coma maior taxa de incidência de doenças diarreicasem crianças menores de 5 anos. O objetivo desteestudo foi investigar a relação entre chuva e níveldo rio, principalmente durante a estação chuvosa,com a taxa de incidência da referida doença emuma bacia no sudoeste da Amazônia. Estimativasde chuva e nível do rio foram correlacionadas eambos correlacionados com a taxa de incidênciada diarreia. Para a região do Alto Acre, 2 a 3 diasde defasagem é o melhor intervalo para observar oimpacto da chuva no nível do rio (R = 0.35). Naregião do Baixo Acre essa defasagem aumentou (4dias) com redução na correlação. A correlação entrechuva e doenças diarreicas foi melhor na regiãodo Baixo Acre (Acrelândia, R = 0.7) e a chuva rioacima da cidade. Entre o nível do rio e as doençasdiarreicas, os melhores resultados foram encontradospara a estação de Brasiléia (casos em Brasiléia,R = 0.3 e Epitaciolândia, R = 0.5). Os resultadosdeste estudo podem dar apoio ao planejamentoe alocação de recursos financeiros para priorizarações para Defesa Civil e serviços de saúde antes,durante e depois da estação chuvosa (AU)

Using satellite data to study the relationship between rainfall and diarrheal diseases in a Southwestern Amazon basin / O uso de dados de satélite para estudar a relação entre chuva e doenças diarreicas em uma bacia na Amazônia Sul-Ocidental

Abstract The North region is the second region in Brazil with the highest incidence rate of diarrheal diseases in children under 5 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between rainfall and water level during the rainy season principally with the incidence rate of this disease in a southwestern Amazon basin. Rainfall estimates and the water level were correlated and both of them were correlated with the diarrheal incidence rate. For the Alto Acre region, 2 to 3 days’ time-lag is the best interval to observe the impact of the rainfall in the water level (R = 0.35). In the Lower Acre region this time-lag increased (4 days) with a reduction in the correlation value was found. The correlation between rainfall and diarrheal disease was better in the Lower Acre region (Acrelândia, R = 0.7) and rainfall upstream of the city. Between water level and diarrheal disease, the best results were found for the Brasiléia gauging station (Brasiléia, R = 0.3; Epitaciolândia, R = 0.5). This study’s results may support planning and financial resources allocation to prioritize actions for local Civil Defense and health care services before, during and after the rainy season.

Resumo A região Norte é a segunda no Brasil com a maior taxa de incidência de doenças diarreicas em crianças menores de 5 anos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a relação entre chuva e nível do rio, principalmente durante a estação chuvosa, com a taxa de incidência da referida doença em uma bacia no sudoeste da Amazônia. Estimativas de chuva e nível do rio foram correlacionadas e ambos correlacionados com a taxa de incidência da diarreia. Para a região do Alto Acre, 2 a 3 dias de defasagem é o melhor intervalo para observar o impacto da chuva no nível do rio (R = 0.35). Na região do Baixo Acre essa defasagem aumentou (4 dias) com redução na correlação. A correlação entre chuva e doenças diarreicas foi melhor na região do Baixo Acre (Acrelândia, R = 0.7) e a chuva rio acima da cidade. Entre o nível do rio e as doenças diarreicas, os melhores resultados foram encontrados para a estação de Brasiléia (casos em Brasiléia, R = 0.3 e Epitaciolândia, R = 0.5). Os resultados deste estudo podem dar apoio ao planejamento e alocação de recursos financeiros para priorizar ações para Defesa Civil e serviços de saúde antes, durante e depois da estação chuvosa.