Catsat Satellite Oceanographic Data

Catsat Satellite Data

Sonartron are able to supply and install the Catsat software based Oceanographic Data to your fishing vessel

Catsat , use Ocean-observing satellites and marine meteorology

• Locate favorable fishing grounds
  
• Reduce operating costs
  
• Improve safety during fishing operations
  
• Meet their quotas more efficiently

The data provided is collecting form various satellites and displayed on an easy to use software interface on a suitable p.c or notebook.
A Satellite data connection is recommended, however some vessels have been able to use this software with a GSM phone.

Here is a brief description of some of the data collected

Temperature data

Sea Surface Temperature Shows

• oceanic fronts
  
• upwelling and eddies
  
• homogeneous water masses
  
• Cold water is represented by deep blue.
  
• Red-orange zones correspond to warmer water.

Some pelagic fishes are known to move along the fronts, often feeding on the cold side.

Cloudless temperature

These temperature data are available even with cloud cover.
These maps have a resolution of 28km x 28km. Even when the cloud coverage lasts over a long period of time you can highlight:

• oceanic fronts,
  
• upwelling and eddies,
  
• homogeneous water masses.

Color data

CATSAT provides ocean color maps indicative of the upper ocean phytoplancton content.
Most ocean features have a clean signature in color maps:

• oceanic fronts
  
• upwelling and eddies
  
• Phytoplancton concentration is represented by brown for the high concentration: fish move to such areas to hunt and feed.

Subsurface Temperature

Catsat service provides data from oceanography models (including data from MERCATOR project) taking into account satellites and in situ data measurements of the Ocean.

Those data concerns principally:

Sub-surface temperature at 5 depths (50, 100, 150, 200 et 300m).


The depth of the maximum thermal gradient (where the thermocline occurs) available only in North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

Marine meteorology data

Most users will be familiar with the standard meteorological information provided by CATSAT. This information is based on three parameters, supplied by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts:

• Sea level atmospheric pressure
  
• Wind direction and force
  
• Wave height.

SOFTWARE INTERFACE

• Map overlays
  
• GPS interface: displays your vessel's position on screen in real time
  
• Wide choice of mapscales
  
• Display data values instantaneously at any point
  
• Multi-windowing
  
• Display maps at different dates.

This software has been very successful for all different types of fisheries and even with being able to track and keep up with Tuna