Meso to submesoscale dynamics in the ocean: robotic sailboat observations and reduced models

• Grant number: 25/12906-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: César Barbedo Rocha
• Grantee: César Barbedo Rocha
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/10506-0 - Small scales matter: the role of submesoscale dynamics in large-scale ocean circulation and climate, AP.JP

Abstract

As part of the Young Investigator grant "Small scales: the role of submesoscale turbulent transport in large-scale ocean circulation and climate", this proposal brings together two complementary undergraduate research projects that address the physical processes governing the generation, maintenance, and dissipation of submesoscale oceanic structures. The first project investigates the compensation between temperature and salinity gradients at submesoscale and its relationship with surface wind variability, using high-resolution data collected by autonomous observational platforms (saildrones). The goal is to understand how thermohaline compensation shapes submesoscale fronts and how it responds to atmospheric forcing. The second project analyzes energy transfer across scales in an idealized numerical model coupling quasi-geostrophic flows (representing mesoscale oceanic dynamics) and near-inertial internal waves. Using simulations with different dissipation configurations, it explores how wave dynamics can facilitate mesoscale energy dissipation via a downscale energy cascade. Together, these two projects aim to improve our understanding of the physical mechanisms controlling submesoscale dynamics and to contribute to their accurate representation in climate models. The undergraduate researchers will engage in cutting-edge research and develop essential skills for a scientific career, including data analysis, programming, critical thinking, and scientific communication. (AU)