MAPPING OF FIRE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN THE HYDROGRAPHIC SUB-BASIN OF THE MÉDIO JAGUARIBE, CEARÁ, BRAZIL

This study aims to assess the susceptibility to wildfires in the Middle Jaguaribe Hydrographic Basin, located in Ceará, Brazil, using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods. The analysis considers land variables (land use and cover, slope, elevation, soil exposure), climate variables (temperature and precipitation), and anthropogenic factors (proximity to roads). Temperature data were obtained from meteorological stations, while precipitation data were collected from ten rainfall stations. Proximity to highways was analyzed using shapefile data provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The study applied the IDW interpolation method to create raster layers for temperature, precipitation, and proximity to roads, and weighted each variable using eigenvectors to determine their influence on fire risk. The results reveal that areas with pastureland and agricultural land present the highest susceptibility to wildfires, while bodies of water have the lowest risk. The analysis of terrain orientation, slope, and elevation further highlights the critical areas at risk. The findings provide valuable insights for the management of wildfire risks in the region, with implications for environmental planning and policy-making.