Unveiling Spatiotemporal Patterns in the Pampa Biome Using Principal Component Analysis

The Pampa biome has been transforming its traditional landscape since the 1950s. Comprehending the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and land cover change (LUCC) in the Pampa and its primary drivers is crucial in formulating territorial planning and environmental management. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to use the potential of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to analyze LUCC in the Pampa biome between 1985-2020, based on the synthesis of the MapBiomas project database. The methodology is divided into three stages, the first is in GEE where pre-processing and PCA are carried out, and the second is in Planetary Computer where correlation coefficients are calculated. Finally, in QGIS 3.10.4, reclassification and cartographic production were conducted. The LUCC processes identified in the Pampa Biome reveal a significant transformation of its landscape, characterized by a reduction in the extent of grassland formations due to the expansion of anthropogenic activities. The conversion of natural grasslands to agricultural land uses, particularly soy, forestry, and farming, has been a prevalent trend. The results of the analysis highlight that the large-scale conversion of grassland areas is a recent phenomenon in the Pampa, occurring mainly between 1995 and 2010, linked to the replacement of cattle ranching by large-scale agriculture.