USE OF SATELLITE IMAGES FOR THE CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF POLLUTANTS IN TULUM, QUINTANA ROO

Abstract

Due to its economic success, the city of Tulum has the highest population growth rate in Mexico, which has led to uncontrolled urban expansion. As a result of the rapid occupation of land by the development of tourist, urban and transportation infrastructure, the elimination of jungles and wetlands is observed in the area and an increase in the demand for services for inhabitants and tourists, which is reflected in a greater consumption of fossil fuels, and in turn a greater release of greenhouse gases (GHG). In this context, the objective of this work is to make evident the levels of atmospheric pollutants methane (CH₄), ozone (O₃) and formaldehyde (CH₂O) between 2018-2023 in the municipality of Tulum through the geo-processing of satellite images with the Google Earth tool and the SNAP, ArcMap and QGIS programs. The pollutant observed in greatest quantity is methane, followed by ozone and finally formaldehyde. In this regard, it is important to consider that compounds such as methane, and other hydrocarbons react with hydroxyl radicals (-OH) generated by the high solar radiation characteristic of the area. These reactions lead to the formation of intermediate compounds such as formaldehyde.