Santos Bifurcation Three-dimensional Structure and Dynamical Consequences (23-30S)

• Grant number: 13/10475-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Ilson Carlos Almeida da SIlveira
• Grantee: Tiago Carrilho Biló
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/00973-1 - The impact of the Brazil Current thickening on instability processes (23-30S), BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The oceanic circulation off the Brazilian coast is governed by the South Atlantic Western Boundary Current System (WBCS). On the Brazilian continental margin between 23-28S (Santos Bight) there is the South Equatorial Current bifurcation in intermediate depths, called Santos Bifurcation. On the north of the bifurcation it is observed a unique WBCS flow pattern, where the Brazil Current (BC) flows poleward in the first 500 m depth and Intermediate Western Boundary Current (IWBC) flows northward beneath the BC in this intermediate depths. On the south of this bifurcation the BC gets a vertical extension similar of those observed in other western boundary currents around the globe. In Santos Bight there is a lack of detailed descriptions of the WBCS three-dimensional velocity structure and what is the role played by the Santos Bifurcation in the variability of the BC. The objectives of this work are to describe the flow pattern in the Santos Bight using top-bottom direct velocity measurements and to evaluate the growth of instabilities and meanders of the BC and how the bifurcation modifies it. To achieve the proposed goals hydrographic and velocity data analysis, water masses identification and linear instability numerical modeling are going to be carried out.

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)

BILO, TIAGO CARRILHO; ALMEIDA DA SILVEIRA, ILSON CARLOS; BELO, WELLINGTON CECCOPIERI; DE CASTRO, BELMIRO MENDES; PIOLA, ALBERTO RICARDO. Methods for estimating the velocities of the Brazil Current in the pre-salt reservoir area off southeast Brazil (23(a similar to) S-26(a similar to) S). OCEAN DYNAMICS, v. 64, n. 10, p. 1431-1446, OCT 2014. (13/10475-6, 12/05221-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BILÓ, Tiago Carrilho. The changing Brazil Current system between 23°S-31°S: vertical structure and mesoscale dynamics. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC) São Paulo.