Relação entre florações de algas e ocorrência de névoas e nevoeiros marítimos durante o verão na Baía de Guanabara

Abstract

The study of interactions between algal blooms and the formation of fog and mist in Guanabara Bay aims to deepen the understanding of how environmental and meteorological variables may influence visibility reduction events in this region, which holds significant environmental and socioeconomic importance in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Variables investigated included sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, visibility, tidal conditions, and climate indices, along with algal bloom data derived from Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellite images. Days selected for analysis were focused on periods when fog or mist was observed at the Galeão and Santos Dumont airports and availability of cloud-free satellite imagery. Analyses involved Pearson correlation calculations among variables, followed by the application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify multivariate interactions and complex patterns that would not be detected by simple correlation methods. The results indicated that although direct correlations among variables were generally weak, there were signs that algal blooms, interacting with factors such as SST and salinity, may contribute to fog formation, particularly in the inner bay areas, where oceanic water circulation is less intense. The application of PCA reinforced these observations, also indicating that La Niña events appear to intensify the frequency and duration of fog events at Santos Dumont Airport, suggesting a nonlinear interaction between oceanic indices and local variables. The findings highlight the importance of integrated approaches in analyzing complex atmospheric phenomena and suggest the need for future investigations that include continuous monitoring, additional data on water quality, and characterization of algal species in blooms for a more detailed understanding of these interactions