Remote sensing-based assessment of carbon stock estimation in the mangroves of Cocó State Park
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62059/LatArXiv.preprints.556Keywords:
Blue carbon, Landsat 8, Urban mangrove, Climate mitigationAbstract
The study evaluated the application of remote sensing for estimating carbon stocks in the mangroves of the Cocó State Park (PEC), an urban coastal ecosystem of high ecological significance in Fortaleza, Brazil. Mangroves, recognized as major “blue carbon” sinks, play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. However, their degradation and fragmentation, driven by urban pressures and forest fires, threaten to reverse this ecological function. The research integrated data from Brazil’s National Forest Inventory with Landsat 8 imagery processed in Google Earth Engine. Species-specific allometric equations were applied to estimate aboveground (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB), while the NDVI was used to model the spatial distribution of carbon. The results revealed higher biomass values in the inner estuarine zones and lower values along the urban–mangrove interfaces. Field measurements estimated an average carbon stock of 28.85 Mg C ha, dominated by R. mangle (65.34%), whereas NDVI-derived estimates reached 68.43 Mg C ha, overestimating field data by a factor of 2.37. This discrepancy is attributed to NDVI saturation in dense canopies and the lack of local calibration. The findings highlight the potential of remote sensing to produce spatially continuous estimates of carbon storage, while emphasizing the importance of field-based validation to enhance accuracy and support sustainable management of the PEC mangrove ecosystem.
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