GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF VEGETATION DISTRIBUTION AND RAINFALL PATTERNS IN A SEMIARID REGION OF MEXICO USING REMOTE SENSING

The objective of this research is to document and analyze quantitatively and qualitatively the relationship between the spatial distribution of vegetation and rainfall patterns, using the central region of the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, as a reference.The importance of this geospatial analysis, which utilizes Vegetation Indices (VIs) and rainfall data, lies in its scientific contribution that can be reproduced under the specific characteristics of other latitudes on the planet.The methodology includes monthly rainfall records through the web-based application GIOVANNI (Geospatial Interactive Online Visualization and Analysis Infrastructure) and VIs from the period of 2014 to 2021.With these data, trends are inferred up to 2030 for VIs correlated with rainfall levels under drought and water stress conditions in semiarid regions.Additionally, the results prompt the consideration of the current situation of this region under the interpretation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a holistic approach.The results infer that the current situation of the region is unsustainable, combined with projected drought conditions and circumstances of water stress.From this work, it is deduced that understanding vegetation and rainfall patterns as fundamental indicators for sustainable management in semi-arid areas, is key to preserving ecosystems.