INPE to Release Data of DETER Every 15 Days

Hello reader!

It follows a note published on the day (08/21) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) informing that INPE to release Data of DETER every 15 days.

Duda Falcão

INPE to Release Data of DETER Every 15 Days

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE) will update DETER’s data on the internet every 15 days from now. The Institute sends spots of deforestation and degradation every day to IBAMA, which uses this information to guide supervision and to ensure effective actions of forest clearing control.

There will be no change in this daily operation between INPE and IBAMA, only in the frequency of data releasing on the internet. Previously, this information used to be available to the public every month, or trimester, usually after its submission by the federal government in Brasília.

This new way of disseminating DETER’s data was agreed between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), to which INPE is attached, and the Ministry of Environment (MMA), responsible for IBAMA. Thus, the people can find new outcomes on the Amazon monitoring more often because the data will be presented twice a month, always at: www.obt.inpe.br/deter

On Monday (20/8), it was published data concerning the monitoring from August 1 to 15.

About DETER

Performed by the Earth Observation Coordination (Coordenação de Observação da Terra – OBT), DETER is a service aimed to monitor deforestation and forest degradation in the Amazon, based on satellite data of high revisiting frequency.

DETER uses data from Modis Terra satellite sensor, with a 250-meters spatial resolution, which makes possible to detect deforestation polygons with an area larger than 25 hectares. Some deforestation areas are not identified by the system due to cloud coverage.

The low resolution used by DETER is compensated by the ability of daily observation, which makes the system a perfect tool to quickly inform deforestation to surveillance authorities.

This system records both cleared areas, when satellites detect complete removal of native forest, and areas classified as progressive degradation, which reveal the process of deforestation in the region.

DETER outcomes are important indicators for control and supervision organizations. However, to compute an annual rate of forest removal by clear-cutting in Amazon rainforest, INPE works with PRODES (www.obt.inpe.br/prodes), which uses high resolution images capable of showing small deforestation points.

Whether reports or data generated by DETER can be found at www.obt.inpe.br/deter

Source: WebSite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)