Hydrodynamics and water properties at the entrance of Ara double dagger A Bay, Brazil

Author(s)

Dottori, Marcelo ^[1] ; Siegle, Eduardo ^[1] ; Castro, Belmiro Mendes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Oceanog Inst, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: OCEAN DYNAMICS; v. 65, n. 12, p. 1731-1741, DEC 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 15

Abstract

Current meter and hydrographic properties at the entrance of the Ara double dagger A Bay (AB), an intertidal flat adjacent to the So Sebastio channel, were collected between July 2013 and February 2014. These data sets show two different hydrographic periods, marked by a sharp change in the temperature and salinity values, clearly caused by the arrival of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW). The first period is characterized by small variabilities on both properties with the dominance of coastal water, with relatively low salinity values. The second period shows a strong increase in the average salinity values and a much larger variability of temperature. This change in the hydrographic characteristics seems to be caused by anomalous winds, capable of displacing the SACW toward the coast. On the other hand, current meter data shows that the dynamics is mainly driven by the large-scale wind and is not impacted by the arrival of the SACW. Also, the currents are dominated by the barotropic mode, independently of the stratification differences that are observed between the beginning and end of the observational period. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/50317-5 - Biodiversity and functioning of a subtropical coastal ecosystem: a contribution to integrated management
• Grantee: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants