Celina Rodrigues
Life Sciences
The experiences and adventures of her childhood in Diamantina were decisive for the curious character and passion for the nature of scientist Celina Rodrigues. It’s safe to say that the first steps in her career as an environmental engineer were taken with waterfall baths and bike trails through the Minas Gerais savannah when she was still a child.
Graduated in environmental engineering at the Centro Universitário de Sete Lagoas from Fundação Educacional Monsenhor Messias, Rodrigues completed her master’s degree in Meteorology at the Federal University of Campina Grande and her doctorate in remote sensing at the National Institute for Space Research in São Paulo. During her academic training, the engineer had two periods abroad, the first at the University of Manitoba in Canada and a sandwich period at the University of Kansas, United States.
By analyzing satellite data, her project seeks to measure the impacts of the release of carbon dioxide in different biomes—a fundamental study to mitigate the effects of climate change on Brazilian ecology. Outside the laboratories, the engineer likes to travel and renew the connection with nature created in her childhood. Long walking and cycling trails are always in her leisure plans.
Projects
Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), an important greenhouse gas, have increased by 50% since the Industrial Revolution due to anthropogenic activities. In recent decades, oceans and forests have absorbed much of the anthropogenic CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The main objective of this investigation is to determine the impact of climate change on CO2 fluxes in Brazilian biomes, the Blue Amazon, the Southwest Atlantic and the Southern Ocean. A combination of in situ, satellite and reanalysis data will be used to achieve this objective. This project will contribute to a better understanding of the role of study areas in the global carbon budget, enabling decision-making to guarantee the sustainable use of forests and oceans, thus contributing to preserving these ecosystems.
