| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 2
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| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Matemat, Dept Matemat, Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, Dept Oceanog Fis Quim & Geol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
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| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH; v. 188, OCT 15 2019. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 0 |
| Abstract | |
In this work, we describe a mechanism by which South Atlantic Central Water is upwelled to shelf-break levels, subsequently mixed with the Tropical Water in the upper portion of the water column, and advected oceanward as a plume, reaching a distance of more than 250 km from the shelf break. This process is due to the coupling of two quasi-stationary Brazil Current (BC) mesoscale features: the anticyclonic Abrolhos Eddy (AE) and the cyclonic Vitoria Eddy (VE), located north and south of the Vitoria-Trindade Ridge (similar to 20.5 degrees S) respectively. As they pair around a topographic feature known as Besnard Bank, they form an eddy dipole with a similar to 2 Sv velocity-intensified BC channeled between the two eddies. During an AE-VE dipole event the BC acquires a cross-isobath direction, which causes horizontal divergence near the shelf break. Therefore, in this scenario, the BC turns into a jet that ejects a nutrient-rich central water mix toward the deep ocean. Considering that we can track the nutrient-rich tongue of water by its higher chlorophyll-a signature, it may be relevant in the understanding of the pelagial biota ecology of the surroundings. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/21729-4 - The role of the Vitória-Trindade Ridge in the generation of sub and meso-scale dynamics |
| Grantee: | Ilson Carlos Almeida da SIlveira |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |