PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THE AMOUNT AND TIMING OF RAINFALL IN VILHENA, RONDÔNIA

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the population's perception of changes in the amount and timing of rainfall in the southern region of Rondônia, with a focus on the city of Vilhena-RO. The topic is relevant given the growing debate on the effects of climate change on regional dynamics and the daily lives of local populations. The methodology used was descriptive, with a qualitative-quantitative approach, based on the application of structured questionnaires containing closed questions. The instruments were applied face-to-face in different parts of the city and virtually using the Google Forms platform, and were posted on social networks. The data revealed that 70.3% of the participants perceive a significant decrease in the amount of rainfall in recent years, while 60.4% indicated that the dry periods are longer. In addition, 34.7% reported that the rains have been occurring outside the traditional periods. These results indicate a collective perception of a change in the local rainfall regime, which is consistent with scientific studies on the subject in the Amazon region. Analysis of the open-ended responses identified concerns related to water supply, agriculture and rising temperatures. It is concluded that the environmental perception of the population of Vilhena represents an important source of information for the formulation of public policies and educational actions aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. The study reinforces the importance of considering local knowledge and the dialog between science and society as a strategy for building sustainable and socially engaged responses to contemporary environmental transformations.