Salinity-induced mixed and barrier layers in the southwestern tropical Atlantic Ocean off the northeast of Brazil

Araújo, Moacyr; Limongi, C.; Servain, Jacques; Silva, Marcus André; Leite, Fabiana S.; Veleda, Dóris; Lentini, Carlos A. D.

doi:10.5194/os-7-63-2011

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…During June-July, which corresponds in the following to the core rainy season at Recife (ENEB), higher equatorial SST (>27 ∘ C) presents a northward displacement as a result of the northward shifting of the ITCZ (Figure 1(b), bottom panel). However, the SAWP (black box in (a) and in the bottom panel of (b)) shows weak variation of SST (>27 ∘ C) with a seasonal variability less than 2 ∘ C [29][30][31][32][33]. This region also presents weak interannual SST variability, where the standard deviation of monthly anomalies is 0.2-0.3 ∘ C (Figure 1(a)).…”

Section: Surface Meteorological Data: Rainfall Sst and Pwsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the seasonal evolution of the Ocean-atmosphere variables is generally related to the Ocean subsurface features such as depth of warm water, we estimated the isothermal layer depth (ILD) and the barrier layer thickness (BLT) in order to analyze their potential influence on the strong rainfall variability. We chose to estimate both the ILD and the BLT because previous studies have shown their importance on the seasonal evolution of the Ocean-atmosphere variables in the western equatorial Atlantic (offshore of NEB) [34][35][36].…”

Section: Subsurface Ocean Data: Isothermal Layer Depth (Ild)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the SAWP does not represent the highest correlation of both SSTA and PWSx anomalies to ENEB rainfall, we considered the SAWP for averaging SSTA and PWSx anomalies to examine the time evolution of the zonal mode in the southern tropical Atlantic (see Figure 5, left-hand panels). The SAWP offshore of Brazil (5 ∘ -15 ∘ S and 30 ∘ -20 ∘ W) is a region of weak seasonal to interannual variability of SST [29][30][31][32][33] where the standard deviation is 0.2-0.3 ∘ C for the monthly anomalies (see Figure 1(a)). This region also has the advantage of experiencing an inversion of the zonal wind anomaly from February-March to June-July ( Figure 5, left-hand panels) near the Brazilian coast; this inversion should be important in the zonal transport of humidity to ENEB.…”

Section: Early Evolution Of Oceanic Parameters Linked To Strongmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tropical Atlantic Contributions to Strong Rainfall Variability Along the Northeast Brazilian Coast

Hounsou-Gbo

Araújo

Bourlès

et al. 2015

Advances in Meteorology

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Tropical Atlantic (TA) Ocean-atmosphere interactions and their contributions to strong variability of rainfall along the Northeast Brazilian (NEB) coast were investigated for the years 1974–2008. The core rainy seasons of March-April and June-July were identified for Fortaleza (northern NEB; NNEB) and Recife (eastern NEB; ENEB), respectively. Lagged linear regressions between sea surface temperature (SST) and pseudo wind stress (PWS) anomalies over the entire TA and strong rainfall anomalies at Fortaleza and Recife show that the rainfall variability of these regions is differentially influenced by the dynamics of the TA. When the Intertropical Convergence Zone is abnormally displaced southward a few months prior to the NNEB rainy season, the associated meridional mode increases humidity and precipitation during the rainy season. Additionally, this study shows predictive effect of SST, meridional PWS, and barrier layer thickness, in the Northwestern equatorial Atlantic, on the NNEB rainfall. The dynamical influence of the TA on the June-July ENEB rainfall variability shows a northwestward-propagating area of strong, positively correlated SST from the southeastern TA to the southwestern Atlantic warm pool (SAWP) offshore of Brazil. Our results also show predictive effect of SST, zonal PWS, and mixed layer depth, in the SAWP, on the ENEB rainfall.

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Section: Surface Meteorological Data: Rainfall Sst and Pwsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subsurface Ocean Data: Isothermal Layer Depth (Ild)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Early Evolution Of Oceanic Parameters Linked To Strongmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Tropical Atlantic Contributions to Strong Rainfall Variability Along the Northeast Brazilian Coast

Hounsou-Gbo

Araújo

Bourlès

et al. 2015

Advances in Meteorology

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“…E is the sum of kinetic and potential energy per unit of horizontal area. In north-eastern of Brazil, the average surface water salinity is 36 (Araujo et al, 2011) and the mean temperature is 26°C (Mehta et al, 1995), leading to a water density of approximately 1023 kg/m 3 .…”

Section: Numerical Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Coral Reefs in Coastal Protection: Analysis of Beach Morphology

Martins

Pereira

Esteves

et al. 2019

Journal of Coastal Research

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This paper evaluates the effect of a fringing reef on the morphodynamic behaviour of adjacent beaches in terms of profile stability and cross-shore sediment exchange. Variations in subaerial beach morphology along 39 crossshore profiles at Pontal do Cupe beach (Northeastern Brazil) were analysed, using modelled wave data and monthly beach topography acquired from November 2014 to September 2016. Pontal do Cupe has a reef to the south but is exposed to waves in the north, making this an ideal location to assess the sheltering effect of the reef. Beach volume and beach width data were used to compare the reef-fronted profiles with those of the exposed adjacent beach. Seven groups of profiles were identified by applying Principal Component Analysis to the topography dataset. A simple numerical model was used to quantify the role of the reef in dissipating wave energy, showing a reduction of approximately 50% in incoming wave energy to the shore. The reef-fronted beach is significantly more stable than the exposed beach. Total beach volume is similar for both the exposed and the reef-fronted beach. The results of this survey can be used as a proxy for the ecosystem service of coastal protection provided by reefs.

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“…Finally, we decided to retain an error norm of 0.02 to estimate the MLD at each Argo profile in this study. As in previous studies, which estimated mean seasonal and/or climatological MLD variability (e.g., Araujo et al, 2011;de Boyer Mont egut et al, 2004;Vauclair & du Penhoat, 2001), this value is assumed to be representative of the mean MLD estimates using density profiles.…”

Section: Mixed-layer Depth (Mld)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and Interannual Mixed‐Layer Heat Budget Variability in the Western Tropical Atlantic From Argo Floats (2007–2012)

et al. 2018

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Oceanic and atmospheric processes were investigated in order to explore the causes of seasonal and interannual variability of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the western tropical Atlantic (WTA; 20°S–20°N, 15°W–60°W). A mixed‐layer (ML) heat budget was performed by using Argo profiles and supplementary data sets based on satellite and atmospheric products during the period 2007–2012. The WTA is divided into four boxes which represent the main temporal and spatial heterogeneities of this region. An analysis of error of each term pointed out that the mean net surface heat fluxes are systematically underestimated by 20 W m−2. A correction of this term provides realistic estimates of the vertical mixing which was obtained as residual term. In agreement with previous studies, the results show that surface flux is the most important process that governs the seasonal cycle of the heat content. Changes in shortwave radiation and latent heat fluxes dictate the oceanic response to the meridional migration of the ITCZ. Along the equator, surface fluxes modulate the annual cycle of ML temperature, but are strongly balanced by horizontal advection. The entrainment term proves a small contribution to the cooling of the ML. On an interannual time scale, the strong positive (negative) SST anomalies observed in 2010 (2012) were generated during the previous winter in both years, mainly north of 10°N, during which the wind anomalies were at the origin of intense heat loss anomalies. Horizontal advection may contributes to the maintaining of these SST anomalies in the equatorial zone and south Atlantic.

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Salinity-induced mixed and barrier layers in the southwestern tropical Atlantic Ocean off the northeast of Brazil

Abstract: These results indicate that the inclusion of salinity dynamics and its variability are necessary for studying mixed and barrier layer behaviors in the tropical Atlantic, where ocean-atmosphere coupling is known to be stronger.

Cited by 27 publications

References 32 publications

Tropical Atlantic Contributions to Strong Rainfall Variability Along the Northeast Brazilian Coast

Tropical Atlantic Contributions to Strong Rainfall Variability Along the Northeast Brazilian Coast

The Role of Coral Reefs in Coastal Protection: Analysis of Beach Morphology

Seasonal and Interannual Mixed‐Layer Heat Budget Variability in the Western Tropical Atlantic From Argo Floats (2007–2012)

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