The role of mesoscale and submesoscale activity in the Brazil-Malvinas frontal system

• Grant number: 06/03968-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2006
• End date: October 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Edmo José Dias Campos
• Grantee: Edmo José Dias Campos
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In this project we propose to investigate the role of mesoscale and submesoscaleturbulent activity in the Brazil-Malvinas Frontal System. Our premise is thatboth are important to explain the distribution of water properties suchs as T,S,nutrients and potential vorticity in theregion because they condition the transformation and subduction of the differentwater masses. Using the 3-D primitive equation numerical model ROMS, we proposeto investigate and quantify these processes. The main outcome expected is an improvedunderstanding of the role played by the South West Atlantic (SWA) in thethermocline ventilation and, more generally, in the Atlantic MeridionalOverturning Circulation. This Project was motivated by discussions held duringthe SACOS Workshop and contributions to the SACC Consortium are anticipated. This project will be developed with the participation of two Post-Doc fellows, for whomwe are requesting fellowships from FAPESP. One will be mostly involved with the researchplan described here. The other will develop a project of data assimilation for ocean forecast,in which the model component is the one implemented as part of this work. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAPET, X.; CAMPOS, E. J.; PAIVA, A. M.. Submesoscale activity over the Argentinian shelf. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 35, n. 15, p. L15605, 2008. (06/04106-4, 06/03968-2)