Snow cover variation in santa river basin and its relation to sea surface temperature anomaly in the pacific ocean during the period 2003–2016

Abstract

Temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean and its overlying atmosphere occur in a period known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The sea surface temperature (SST) is an important variable for study of earth's climate system and has great influence over the Tropical Glaciers. The Santa River Basin in the Peruvian Andean Mountain Range is located at the most extensive network of tropical glaciers in South America and are sensitive indicators of climate evolution. In this study, the data products MYD28M and MOD10A1 from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer sensor (MODIS) for satellites Terra and Aqua are used to determined SST and snow cover variation (SCV). Principal Component Analysis, Histogram Analysis, filtering and Wavelet Analysis are used for processing and analysis of data. The results of SST and SCV, during the period 2003–2016, show anomalies with similar periods and a high correlation around of 2.9 years which demonstrates its relation to El Niño phenomenon.