In situ observations of the ocean-atmosphere interactions at the Brazil-Malvinas confluence region

• Grant number: 05/02359-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2005
• End date: October 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Ponzi Pezzi
• Grantee: Luciano Ponzi Pezzi
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The sea surface temperature (SST) beneath the atmosphere locally modulates the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL). This MABL-SST modulation has been studied on many oceanic frontal regions in the world; however the physical mechanisms, which govern these interactions, are still misunderstood and remains as an open scientific question. The main objective of this project is to investigate the interactions between the oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region. It is proposed to sample, simultaneously, physical properties of the ocean and of the atmosphere on board the Brazilian Navy R/V Ary Rongel while cruising the BMC region on its way down to Antarctica. According to the literature there is no in situ observations taken simultaneously in the ocean and atmosphere with the specific objective to investigate the feedback mechanisms between these two boundary layers in this region, a part from a pilot project carried out November 2004. It is expected that the results will help to characterize the MABL vertical structure and to provide a better insight on the key player mechanisms involved on this modulation. It is also expected to assimilate the atmospheric data into a regional atmospheric model (the Eta model operationally available at CPTEC) to verify if the skill of model increases when observational data are used. It is believed that these results will help to pinpoint potential sites to place oceanographic platforms to operationally collect oceanic and atmospheric data in the BMC region. (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)

PEZZI, LUCIANO PONZI; DE SOUZA, RONALD BUSS; ACEVEDO, OTAVIO; WAINER, ILANA; MATA, MAURICIO M.; GARCIA, CARLOS A. E.; DE CAMARGO, RICARDO. Multiyear measurements of the oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers at the Brazil-Malvinas confluence region. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, v. 114, OCT 1 2009. (05/02359-0)

DE CAMARGO, RICARDO; TODESCO, ENZO; PEZZI, LUCIANO PONZI; DE SOUZA, RONALD BUSS. Modulation mechanisms of marine atmospheric boundary layer at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence region. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, v. 118, n. 12, p. 6266-6280, JUN 27 2013. (05/02359-0)

ACEVEDO, OTAVIO C.; PEZZI, LUCIANO P.; SOUZA, RONALD B.; ANABOR, VAGNER; DEGRAZIA, GERVASIO A.. Atmospheric boundary layer adjustment to the synoptic cycle at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence, South Atlantic Ocean. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, v. 115, NOV 17 2010. (05/02359-0)