Estudo comparativo entre as estimativas da temperatura da Superfície do mar via satélite aqua/modis e as temperaturas medidas in situ pelas bóias meteo-oceanográficas do Projeto PIRATA

Abstract

The MODIS sensor coupled to the AQUA satellite performs surface measurements of the ocean temperature, while the anchored buoys of the PIRATA Project make point surface measurements up to 500 m in depth. Due to the importance of validating data in situ and data derived from satellite, the present study sought to identify to what depth a good correlation is found, considered above 0.7. For the realization of this project, data of the surface and subsurface temperature from 1998 to 2018 measured by 17 ATLAS buoys of the Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) Project were obtained, in addition to satellite-derived TSM. After removing anomalous values, statistical measures were calculated in order to obtain the correlation. Therefore, it was possible to identify that the best correlations belong to the buoys region in the Atlantic, southwest of Ecuador, while the worst are to the northwest. In addition, thermocline graphs were performed for the same period, identifying that due to the influence of the Trade Confluence Zone (ZCA) and, consequently, the ZCIT, the western region of the Equatorial Atlantic is composed of the broadest mix layers. Monthly thermocline charts were made for 4 buoys at 38ºW, allowing the observation of the vertical movement of the ZCIT during the different months.