Mesoscale dynamic processess associated to the Santos Bifurcation (20-30S)

• Grant number: 14/18360-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: January 05, 2015
• End date: October 04, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Ilson Carlos Almeida da SIlveira
• Grantee: Ilson Carlos Almeida da SIlveira
• Host Investigator: Glenn Richard Flierl
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Abstract

The present proposal aims to describe the oceanic circulation within the Santos Bight using top-bottom direct velocity and hydrographic measurements in order to evaluate the occurence of instabilities, meander growth and vortical ring formation in the Brazil Current. In particular, the proposal intends to pursue the understanding of the role of the Santos Bifurcation and the drastic change in the boundary current vertical shear this feature causes on the hydrodynamics system. The methods to be employed, which will allow the objectives to be accomplished include: processing and dynamical analyses of quasi-synoptic observation, water mass identification, and the development of semi-analytical models of geophysical instabilities (in both linear and nonlinear versions). The research topics covered in the present proposal are part of the multi-institutional efforts INCT-CARBOM (funded by CNPq) and REMARSUL (funded by CAPES), bothcoordinated by the Oceanographic Institute of University of São Paulo. The requested Visiting Researcher Abroad Fellowship will take place at the Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences of Massachussetts Institute of Technology and the host researcher will be Prof. Glenn Richard Flierl.