TEMPESTADES DE AREIA: UMA DISCUSSÃO DOS ACONTECIMENTOS RECENTES NO BRASIL

The sandstorms that occurred in September 2021 between the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil surprised the population and meteorologists, causing astonishment and questions. The beginning of spring and the change in temperature, which caused the movement of air masses, together with drought and soil management techniques resulted in a phenomenon rarely seen in the country. Deforestation in the Amazon region is pointed out as an important factor in the scarcity of rainfall witnessed in recent years, especially in the South, Southeast and Midwest regions, since that biome is responsible for spreading moisture from the Atlantic Ocean to these regions. The present work aimed to study the theme and draw an analysis between the listed factors that, together, caused the phenomenon, in addition to pointing out meteorological concepts for greater understanding. The methodology used was bibliographic and analytical research, seeking to reveal deforestation and planting methods with the 2021 Drought Monitor and view satellite images of Brazil in the period in which the phenomenon occurred, mainly using Google Scholar for research. From the results obtained from the Drought Monitor, which monitors mainly the intensity of drought in certain areas of the country, it can be observed that the level of drought called 'Exceptional Drought' increased in the north of the state of São Paulo, and coincidentally some of the cities where the sandstorm phenomenon occurred are contemplated with this exceptional drought. Therefore, the occurrence of the phenomenon in that year was able to open new possibilities for meteorological monitoring, aiming at the interpretation of these results, such as agricultural soil moisture, the first rain showers after the drought period, the increase in temperature and consequently the increased displacement of air masses (winds), and these events will be monitored in the future, allowing the population to be alerted to promote safety and health for all. Such monitoring and interpretation of data also contribute to the formation and implementation of future public policies and investments in research related to the topic.