Conservation and monitoring of rock art heritage in the caatinga microclimate in the face of climate change

the case of Serra da Capivara National Park (Piauí - Brazil)

Abstract

The current context of climate change poses new challenges for preventive conservation and integrated monitoring of Natural and Archaeological Heritage. The data presented in IPCC AR6 highlights the vulnerability of the Brazilian semi-arid region, with the Caatinga national biome being the most susceptible to climate change, temperatures expected to rise by 2ºC to 4ºC, greater temperature range and rainfall deficit of between 20 and 30% by 2100. The sum of these factors will cause both a reduction in the water level in underground reservoirs and consequent soil degradation, as well as changes in land cover, which, as a temperature-regulating agent, will lead to increased exposure to atmospheric agents of the graphic and pictorial rock art of the Serra da Capivara National Park, located in southeastern Piauí. This article provides recent data on remote sensing and the analysis of climatic elements collected over the last four years (2002-2025) in the Desfiladeiro da Capivara, focusing on the case of Toca da Entrada do Pajaú, and proposes mechanisms for the conservation and monitoring of the rock art heritage.