The PIRATA network provides critical in situ observations that underpin a wide range of oceanographic and climate research, product development, and operational applications. Its buoy and cruise data are extensively used within the French research community and by CORIOLIS for developing surface salinity products, supporting the In Situ Analysis System (ISAS), and validating thermistor chain measurements. PIRATA data also play a central role in validating numerical models of the tropical Atlantic, from physical circulation models to ecosystem models such as SEAPODYM, demonstrating its relevance for both physical and biological oceanography. In operational meteorology and oceanography, PIRATA measurements are assimilated daily into ocean models (e.g., NEMO/PISCES at Mercator Océan) and used for real-time validation of temperature, salinity, and atmospheric forcing data. Observing System Simulation Experiments further confirm PIRATA’s unique value, showing that tropical moorings provide essential constraints on large-scale ocean variability, complementing satellite and Argo observations.
