How the deep water boundary current flows along Southeast-South Brazilian continental margin?

• Grant number: 17/22464-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Ilson Carlos Almeida da SIlveira
• Grantee: Pedro Walfir Martins e Souza Neto
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/03114-3 - How does the deep western boundery current flows the along the East-Southeast-South Brazilian continental margin?, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

The MOC (Meridional Overturning Circulation) regulate the Planet Earth Climate, being the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) responsible for transporting the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) inter-hemispherically. The DWBC flows adjacent to the American continental margin and has been considerably studied between the southern Labrador Sea (48°N) and about 20°S, already off the east coast of Brazil. However, when it reaches, at 20.5°S, it encounters the Cadeia Vitória-Trinade (CVT), its trajectory is still given as uncertain and questionable. However, it is known that at 34.5°S there is already an adjacent flow adjacent to the southern Brazilian continental slope. This proposal aims at the description and characterization of the trajectory and intensity of the DWBC south of the CVT, and therefore south of 20.5°S, up to 34.5°S. The development of this work will occur using the Classical Dynamic Method in the hydrographic data of the Commissions of the Brazilian Navy Ocean Sudeste I and II; Ocean Sul III and IV. Data from oceanographic cruises conducted by IOUSP in partnership with PETROBRAS: Abrolhos I and II, and Ceres V will also be analyzed. From the analysis, current function maps and vertical profiles will be developed to unravel the synoptic circulation pattern of the DWBC when reattached to the Brazilian continental margin. (AU)