scholarly journals THE BIFURCATION OF THE WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT SYSTEM OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janini Pereira ◽  
Mariela Gabioux ◽  
Martinho Marta Almeida ◽  
Mauro Cirano ◽  
Afonso M. Paiva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
Western Boundary Current ◽  
South Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
The South

ABSTRACT. The results of two high-resolution ocean global circulation models – OGCMs (Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model – HYCOM and Ocean Circulation andClimate Advanced Modeling Project – OCCAM) are analyzed with a focus on the Western Boundary Current (WBC) system of the South Atlantic Ocean. The volumetransports are calculated for different isopycnal ranges, which represent the most important water masses present in this region. The latitude of bifurcation of the zonalflows reaching the coast, which leads to the formation of southward or northward WBC flow at different depths (or isopycnal levels) is evaluated. For the Tropical Water,bifurcation of the South Equatorial Current occurs at 13◦-15◦S, giving rise to the Brazil Current, for the South Atlantic Central Water this process occurs at 22◦S.For the Antarctic Intermediate Water, bifurcation occurs near 28◦-30◦S, giving rise to a baroclinic unstable WBC at lower latitudes with a very strong vertical shearat mid-depths. Both models give similar results that are also consistent with previous observational studies. Observations of the South Atlantic WBC system havepreviously been sparse, consequently these two independent simulations which are based on realistic high-resolution OGCMs, add confidence to the values presentedin the literature regarding flow bifurcations at the Brazilian coast.Keywords: Southwestern Atlantic circulation, water mass, OCCAM, HYCOM. RESUMO. Resultados de dois modelos globais de alta resolução (HYCOM e OCCAM) são analisados focando o sistema de Corrente de Contorno Oeste do Oceano Atlântico Sul. Os transportes de volume são calculados para diferentes níveis isopicnais que representam as principais massas de água da região. É apresentada a avaliação da latitude de bifurcação do fluxo zonal que atinge a costa, permitindo a formação dos fluxos da Corrente de Contorno Oeste para o sul e para o norte emdiferentes níveis de profundidades (ou isopicnal). Para a Água Tropical, a bifurcação da Corrente Sul Equatorial ocorre entre 13◦-15◦S, originando a Corrente do Brasil, e para a Água Central do Atlântico Sul ocorre em 22◦S. A bifurcação daÁgua Intermediária Antártica ocorre próximo de 28◦-30◦S, dando um aumento na instabilidade baroclínica da Corrente de Contorno Oeste em baixas latitudes e com um forte cisalhamento vertical em profundidades intermediárias. Ambos os modelos apresentamresultados similares e consistentes com estudos observacionais prévios. Considerando que as observações do sistema de Corrente de Contorno Oeste do Atlântico Sul são escassas, essas duas simulações independentes com modelos globais de alta resolução adicionam confiança aos valores apresentados na literatura, relacionadosaos fluxos das bifurcações na costa do Brasil.Palavras-chave: circulação do Atlântico Sudoeste, massas de água, OCCAM, HYCOM.

scholarly journals Freshening of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the South Atlantic Ocean in 2005–2014

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjun Yao ◽  
Jiuxin Shi
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
South Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Freshwater Input ◽  
The South ◽  
Antarctic Intermediate Water

Abstract. Basin-scaled freshening of Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) is reported to have dominated South Atlantic Ocean during period from 2005 to 2014, as shown by the gridded monthly means Argo (Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography) data. The relevant investigation was also revealed by two transatlantic occupations of repeated section along 30° S, from World Ocean Circulation Experiment Hydrographic Program. Freshening of the AAIW was compensated by the opposing salinity increase of thermocline water, indicating the contemporaneous hydrological cycle intensification. This was illustrated by the precipitation less evaporation change in the Southern Hemisphere from 2000 to 2014, with freshwater input from atmosphere to ocean surface increasing in the subpolar high-precipitation region and vice versa in the subtropical high-evaporation region. Against the background of hydrological cycle augment, the decreased transport of Agulhas Leakage (AL) was proposed to be one of the contributors for the associated freshening of AAIW. This indirectly estimated variability of AL, reflected by the weakening of wind stress over the South Indian Ocean since the beginning of 2000s, facilitates the freshwater input from source region and partly contributes to the observed freshened AAIW. Both of our mechanical analysis is qualitative, but this work would be helpful to validate and test predictably coupled sea-air model simulations.

scholarly journals The INALT family – a set of high-resolution nests for the Agulhas Current system within global NEMO ocean/sea-ice configurations

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3329-3355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska U. Schwarzkopf ◽  
Arne Biastoch ◽  
Claus W. Böning ◽  
Jérôme Chanut ◽  
Jonathan V. Durgadoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Current System ◽  
Western Boundary Current ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
The South ◽  
Agulhas Current ◽  
Mesoscale Dynamics

Abstract. The Agulhas Current, the western boundary current of the South Indian Ocean, has been shown to play an important role in the connectivity between the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The greater Agulhas Current system is highly dominated by mesoscale dynamics. To investigate their influence on the regional and global circulations, a family of high-resolution ocean general circulation model configurations based on the NEMO code has been developed. Horizontal resolution refinement is achieved by embedding “nests” covering the South Atlantic and the western Indian oceans at 1/10∘ (INALT10) and 1/20∘ (INALT20) within global hosts with coarser resolutions. Nests and hosts are connected through two-way interaction, allowing the nests not only to receive boundary conditions from their respective host but also to feed back the impact of regional dynamics onto the global ocean. A double-nested configuration at 1/60∘ resolution (INALT60) has been developed to gain insights into submesoscale processes within the Agulhas Current system. Large-scale measures such as the Drake Passage transport and the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation are rather robust among the different configurations, indicating the important role of the hosts in providing a consistent embedment of the regionally refined grids into the global circulation. The dynamics of the Agulhas Current system strongly depend on the representation of mesoscale processes. Both the southward-flowing Agulhas Current and the northward-flowing Agulhas Undercurrent increase in strength with increasing resolution towards more realistic values, which suggests the importance of improving mesoscale dynamics as well as bathymetric slopes along this narrow western boundary current regime. The exploration of numerical choices such as lateral boundary conditions and details of the implementation of surface wind stress forcing demonstrates the range of solutions within any given configuration.

scholarly journals MODELING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN FROM MEDIUM TO HIGH-RESOLUTION

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariela Gabioux Gabioux ◽  
Vladimir Santos Da Costa ◽  
João Marcos Azevedo Correia de Souza ◽  
Bruna Faria de Oliveira ◽  
Afonso De Moraes Paiva
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
Surface Relaxation ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
The South ◽  
Basic Set ◽  
Set Up

ABSTRACT. The standard REMO (a Brazilian approach towards operational oceanography) model configuration is tested, and results of two numerical simulations with HYCOM are presented and discussed. This configuration consists basically of a high-resolution eddy-resolving, 1/12 degree model for the Metarea V (latitudes from 7◦N to 35◦50’S, and longitudes between 20◦W and the Brazilian coast), nested in a medium-resolution eddy-permitting, 1/4 degree model of the Atlantic Ocean. These simulations aim for: a) creating a basic set-up for implementation of assimilation techniques leading to ocean prediction; b) the development of hydrodynamic bases for environmental studies; and c) providing boundary conditions for regional domains with increased resolution. This is the first time HYCOM is applied in high-resolution and particularly tailored for this region of the ocean. The 1/4 degree simulation was able to simulate realistic Equatorial and South Atlantic large scale circulation, both the wind-driven and the thermohaline components. The high-resolution introduces realistic mesoscale activity, in particular that associated with the dynamics of western boundary currents, and captures also both the continental shelf and the upper-ocean modes of variability associated with atmospheric synoptic forcing. Important issues for the simulation of the South Atlantic with high-resolution are discussed, like the ideal place for boundaries, improvements in the bathymetric representation, and the control of SST bias by the introduction of surface relaxation. In order to make a preliminary assessment of the model behavior when submitted to data assimilation, the Cooper & Haines (1996) method was used to extrapolate SSH anomalies fields to deeper layers every 7 days, with encouraging results.Keywords: numerical simulation, nesting, southwest Atlantic, Brazil Current. RESUMO. Neste trabalho são apresentados e discutidos resultados de duas simulações numéricas realizadas com o model HYCOM e que representam a configuração padrão do projeto REMO (Rede de Modelagem e Observação Oceanográfica), uma abordagem brasileira para a oceanografia operacional. Esta configuração consiste em um modelo em alta resolução (1/12 de grau, que resolve a mesoescala) da região denominada de Metarea V (latitudes de 7◦N a 35◦50’S e longitudes desde 20◦W até a costa brasileira), aninhado em um modelo em média-resolução (1/4 de grau, que resolve apenas parcialmente a mesoescala) do oceano Atlântico. Estas simulações tem como objetivos: a) a geração de um set-up básico para implementação de técnicas de assimilação visando a previsão oceânica; b) o desenvolvimento de bases hidrodinâmicas para estudos ambientais; e c) a geração de condições de contorno para domínios regionais com maior resolução. Esta é a primeira vez que o HYCOM é aplicado em alta resolução e especialmente configurado para esta região do oceano. A simulação em 1/4 de grau simulou de forma realista a circulação de larga escala no Atlântico Sul e Equatorial, tanto a componente eólica quanto a termohalina. A simulação em alta resolução foi capaz de introduzir também de forma realista a mesoescala, em particular aquela associada à dinâmica das correntes de contorno oeste, e de capturar a variabilidade da porção superior do oceano e da plataforma continental associada à forçante atmosférica em escala sinótica. Aspectos importantes para a simulação do Atlântico Sul em alta resolução são discutidos, como o posicionamento dos contornos, a representação da batimetria e o controle de possíveis tendências na TSM pela introdução de um termo de relaxamento para climatologia em superfície. Uma avaliação preliminar do comportamento do modelo submetido à assimilação de dados foi realizada com o método de Cooper & Haines (1996), capaz de extrapolar campos de anomalias de elevação da superfície para camadas mais profundas a cada 7 dias, com resultados promissores.Palavras-chave: simulação numérica, aninhamento, Atlântico sudoeste, Corrente do Brasil.

scholarly journals Propagating Modes of Variability and Their Impact on the Western Boundary Current in the South Atlantic

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (5) ◽  
pp. 3168-3185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudip Majumder ◽  
Marlos Goes ◽  
Paulo S. Polito ◽  
Rick Lumpkin ◽  
Claudia Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Atlantic ◽  
Western Boundary Current ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
The South ◽  
Modes Of Variability

scholarly journals Freshening of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the South Atlantic Ocean in 2005–2014

Ocean Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjun Yao ◽  
Jiuxin Shi ◽  
Xiaolong Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
South Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Freshwater Input ◽  
The South ◽  
Antarctic Intermediate Water ◽  
Basin Scale

Abstract. Basin-scale freshening of Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) is reported to have occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean during the period from 2005 to 2014, as shown by the gridded monthly means of the Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography (Argo) data. This phenomenon was also revealed by two repeated transects along a section at 30° S, performed during the World Ocean Circulation Experiment Hydrographic Program. Freshening of the AAIW was compensated for by a salinity increase of thermocline water, indicating a hydrological cycle intensification. This was supported by the precipitation-minus-evaporation change in the Southern Hemisphere from 2000 to 2014. Freshwater input from atmosphere to ocean surface increased in the subpolar high-precipitation region and vice versa in the subtropical high-evaporation region. Against the background of hydrological cycle changes, a decrease in the transport of Agulhas Leakage (AL), which was revealed by the simulated velocity field, was proposed to be a contributor to the associated freshening of AAIW. Further calculation showed that such a decrease could account for approximately 53 % of the observed freshening (mean salinity reduction of about 0.012 over the AAIW layer). The estimated variability of AL was inferred from a weakening of wind stress over the South Indian Ocean since the beginning of the 2000s, which would facilitate freshwater input from the source region. The mechanical analysis of wind data here was qualitative, but it is contended that this study would be helpful to validate and test predictably coupled sea–air model simulations.

scholarly journals Deep Western Boundary Current transport variability in the South Atlantic: preliminary results from a pilot array at 34.5° S

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 977-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Meinen ◽  
A. R. Piola ◽  
R. C. Perez ◽  
S. L. Garzoli
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
Western Boundary Current ◽  
Meridional Overturning Circulation ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Model Output ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
The South ◽  
Deep Western Boundary Current

Abstract. The first direct estimates of the temporal variability of the absolute transport of the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) at 34.5° S in the South Atlantic Ocean are obtained using just under one year of data from a line of four pressure-equipped inverted echo sounders. Hydrographic sections collected in 2009 and 2010 confirm the presence of the DWBC, one of the main deep pathways of the Meridional Overturning Circulation, based on neutral density, temperature, salinity, and oxygen values. Both observations confirm that the DWBC reconstitutes itself after breaking into eddies in the western sub-tropical Atlantic near 8° S. The amplitude and spectral character of the DWBC transport variability are comparable with those observed at 26.5° N, where longer records exist, with the DWBC at 34.5° S exhibiting a transport standard deviation of 25 Sv and variations of ~40 Sv occurring within periods as short as a few days. There is little indication of an annual cycle in the DWBC transports, although the observation record is too short to be definitive, and the dominant time scale during the first year of the experiment was about 9–10 days. A "Monte Carlo-style" analysis using 27 yr of model output from the same location as the observations indicates that another 48–60 months of data will be required to encompass a fairly complete span of deep transport variability. The model suggests the presence of an annual cycle in DWBC transport, however the statistical significance of the annual cycle with even 27 yr of model output is low, suggesting that annual period variations in the model are weak as well.

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