Internal waves and their influence on the oceanic thermodynamics of the Alcatrazes Archipelago

• Grant number: 22/16352-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Dottori
• Grantee: Arian Dialectaquiz Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although dependent on refined and complex parameterizations, the study of vertical mixing is fundamental to the understanding of phenomena and processes in the oceans, with increasing attention from the scientific community. Vertical mixing associated with internal waves, estimated at approximately 1 TW, is critical in understanding energy transport, climate change, and global and regional marine ecosystems. This importance extends directly to economic activities, ecosystem management and climate forecasts. Internal waves formed on the slope have already been identified, by Synthetic Aperture Radars and Spectroradiometric Imaging, propagating in the portion of the continental shelf where the Alcatrazes Archipelago is located, and associated with increased vertical mixing on the platform and enrichment of the euphotic zone in regions further from the coast. However, remains unexplored the direct influence of the breaking of internal waves, and the generation of new ones by the interaction of the tide with the topography on the thermodynamics of the water column of islands on continental shelves. An important island on the continental shelf is Alcatrazes, which belongs to two areas of marine environmental protection, with high biodiversity and primary photosynthetic production. This project aims to identify the influence of internal waves on the vertical mixing of heat and water masses in this complex ecosystem region, through data analysis, satellite products and numerical modeling. Thus, it is intended not only to determine the importance of the physical phenomenon in the oceanographic context, but also to improve the results of numerical modeling and predictions through a deeper understanding of hydrodynamics, thermodynamics and regional topography. (AU)