Synoptic events associated with the land surface temperature in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This article aimed to evaluate land surface temperature using MOD11A2 (Terra satellite) with spatial resolution of one kilometre, compares its findings with land surface temperature data gathered by conventional meteorological stations, and, finally, investigates relations between land surface temperature and synoptic systems events that occurred in Rio de Janeiro State between January until December of 2009. The highest surface temperatures recorded by the MOD11A2 product, derived from the MODIS sensor, were found in the Metropolitana, Baixadas Litorâneas, Norte Fluminense and Noroeste Fluminense regions of Rio de Janeiro State and were recorded during the summer, winter and spring seasons. Autumn was the only exception, and this was due to the influence of the coastal environment. The following synoptic systems interfered with the estimated surface temperature produced by the MOD11A2 product for Rio de Janeiro State in 2009: the Madden Julian Oscillation and South Atlantic Convergence Zone in the summer; and Frontal Systems, the South Atlantic Convergence Zone, the Madden Julian Oscillation and the Upper Tropospheric Cyclonic Vortex in spring. The land use and occupation types with the highest surface temperature are: forest, urban area and pasture land in the summer; forest, urban area, agriculture and pasture land in autumn; and urban area and agriculture during spring. The MOD11A2 product showed a drastic decrease of the surface temperature for all land types during winter, especially for forested land.