TM/Landsat-5 and Sar Image Digital Processing Applied to Identify Salt Affected Soils Zones in the Baixada de Sousa, State of the Paraíba, Brazil MARX PRESTES BARBOSA 1 DAVID BARBER 2 CÍCERO DE OLIVEIRA LIMA 3 1, 3 UFPB – Universidade Federal da Paraíba Av. Aprigio Veloso, 882 – Campina Grande – PB – Brasil – 58.109-970 marx@lmrs.pb.gov.br 2 The University of Manitoba Isbister Bldg. Dept. of Geography – Winnpeg, MB – Canada – R3T 2N2 dbarber@ms.umanitoba.ca Abstract: This paper describes the use of TM/Landsat-5 and Radarsat digital image processing to study salt affected soils zones in arid and semi-arid regions, Baixada de Sousa, in the State of the Paraíba, Brazil has been selected as a test area. Keywords: remote sensing, salt soils, GIS. 1 - Introduction One of the principal land degradation processes, resulting from the desertification, relates to the salinization of agricultural lands. The conventional methods used to study this problem are very expensive. Thus we propose to use a combination and integration of Earth Observations data within the structure of a GIS to study salt affected soils zones in the semi-arid of the Paraíba 2 - Innovation This study represents the first opportunity to assess the use of RadarSAT in the semi-arid regions of the State of the Paraíba. The recurring nature of this drought phenomenon requires a space- based approach to assessment and information generation. RadarSAT offers significant potential in this regard since the region (although arid) has a ubiquitous cloud cover. 3 - Methods The methodological approach is based on the use of two remote sensing packages; PCI and SPRING. The field data has been collected to supported the digital analysis. During the fieldwork a visual reconnaissance of the study area was conducted, that included the description of the natural elements and the description of the socio-economic aspects. Validation of TM and RadarSAT data is being conducted at detailed sampling sites within the study area. Sampling is being supported by a GPS system of the UFPB. The geophysical, socio-economic, and spatial variables collected during fieldwork is being integrated into a single GIS database of the study area. This framework will become the focus for an assessment of the integration of RadarSAT data into the drought assessment objectives of this research project.