Located in the middle of the Amazon, on an island full of history, the Tatuoca Magnetic Observatory makes measurements that contribute to the operation of satellites, transmission lines and other technological systems.
A Tatuoca Islandhalf an hour by boat from Belém, in Pará, is deserted. In the past, it was the scene of episodes of the Cabanagem revolt and was a quarantine space for people suspected of having contagious diseases.
But, since the beginning of the 20th century, it has become part of the history of science. Today, it houses the Tatuoca Magnetic Observatory, which is part of a global network that monitors the Earth’s magnetic field.
Founded in 1957, the Tatuoca Magnetic Observatory helps unravel Earth’s magnetic field.
Inside the planet, in the outer core, more than 2,900 kilometers deep, iron and nickel move continuously to form the Earth’s magnetic field – a fundamental shield for maintaining life, offering protection against solar wind and cosmic rays.
To understand the history of the magnetic field and project its future, computer models are needed. And “to create models and understand the Earth’s magnetic phenomena, it is essential that the observatories that control the magnetic field are distributed across the surface”, explained to , the director of the Institute of Geosciences at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Cristiano Mendel.
The information transmitted by the Tatuoca Magnetic Observatory is fundamental for basic science, for understanding the depths of the planet and for the development of practical applications, such as satellite navigation. Furthermore, the observatory is in a strategic position to understand two phenomena: the magnetic equator and the equatorial electrojet current.
“In Tatuoca, very important measurements are made to understand the structure, processes, variations of the Earth’s field and the interaction between the magnetic fields of the Earth and the Sun. All of this is important for the operation of satellites, transmission lines and various other technological systems fundamental to our society”, he explained to DW André Wiermannsenior technologist at the Geophysics Department of the National Observatory (ON), the body responsible for the Tatuoca observatory.
Place with a lot of history
Before becoming a research center, the small island was the scene of important events in the region.
Political history
One of them occurred during the Cabanagema revolt against the imperial government during the Regency period.
In August 1835, Marshal Manuel Jorge had to evacuate Belém due to the advance of the rebels and set up his barracks in Tatuoca.
Social history
The island also functioned as a space for health defense on two occasions.
In 1855, during a cholera epidemic, ships were quarantined before arriving in Belém.
In 1903, during a bubonic plague epidemic, it became a sanitary station, with disinfectants for ships.
Scientific history
The scientific history of Tatuoca began in 1917.
At the time, measurements of the magnetic field began to be made on the Brazilian equatorial margin, a region that would be the scene of an experiment during an eclipse to prove Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
According to the UFPA professor Cristiano Mendelthe region off the coast of Pará and around the island was considered to host the eclipse observations, but was discarded due to the large presence of clouds – the measurements ended up being carried out in Sobral, Ceará, in 1919.
Then, in 1933, the island received a temporary magnetic station. Until, in 1957, the Tatuoca Magnetic Observatory was created by the National Observatory, a research unit linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).
“It is the oldest scientific station in continuous operation in the Amazon”, praises Mendel.
At that date, the National Observatory had already created the Magnetic Observatory of Vassouras, 120 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro, which has operated uninterruptedly since 1915. Today, in addition to these two structures, Brazil also has a network of 175 repeater stations, where measurements are taken every five years.
Science Island in the Amazon
Tatuoca occupies a strategic position for monitoring the magnetic equator, the region where the Earth’s magnetic field is parallel to the surface. In this area, a compass has no vertical tilt but remains aligned parallel to the ground.
“As the magnetic field is not perfectly homogeneous and varies over time, the magnetic equator is not a regular line around the planet. It deforms and moves over time”, explained André Wiermann.
These variations have been monitored by the Tatuoca observatory.
In 1957, the magnetic equator passed to the south, near Mossoró (RN). In 2012, he passed through Tatuoca. In April this year, it passed through Macapá (AP), where another measuring station is located.
In recent years, UFPA and the National Observatory have strengthened relations, including a scientific cooperation agreement. “The objective is for Tatuoca to be an Island of Science in the Amazon, with different sciences,” said Mendel.
The idea is that the infrastructure can be used to carry out research in various areas, such as environmental monitoring, water quality, salinity, chemical and physical indices and even satellite monitoring.
In this context of collaboration, the Tatuoca Magnetic Observatory has, in different phases, international cooperation with agencies and bodies from countries such as France, Germany, the United States and India.
In Medel’s view, there is a quest to get to know the Amazon, one of the most important biomes in the world, as its maintenance is fundamental to preserve biodiversity and avoid worsening climate change.
