ARIDITY INDEX AND CLIMATIC RISK OF DESERTIFICATION IN THE SEMI-ARID STATE OF SERGIPE

The semi-arid is a region of high temperatures and low rainfall conditions, and can be the gateway to the establishment of climatic processes that aggravate this aridity condition. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to identify the areas most susceptible to desertification in the semi-arid state of Sergipe, through the application of the aridity index. The aridity index was generated from the input monthly data of precipitation and temperature, and the classification of the index was performed in: hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid, sub-humid dry and sub-humid and humid, with a subsequent classification of the risk level as being very high, high and moderate. The semi-arid region of the state of Sergipe has all the superior extension in prominence, since it shows the highest aridity index and, consequently, higher risk to desertification, especially the northwest with a classification of semiarid. Monthly, there is a condition of aridity in some regions, which magnifies the susceptibility to the processes of desertification.