IADO   05364
INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE OCEANOGRAFIA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
The influence of the Brazil and Malvinas Currents on the Southwestern Atlantic Shelf Circulation
Autor/es:
ELBIO D. PALMA; ALBERTO R. PIOLA; RICARDO P. MATANO
Lugar:
Montreal, Canada
Reunión:
Congreso; MOCA-09, IAPSO Joint Assembly; 2009
Institución organizadora:
IAPSO
Resumen:
In this presentation we will discuss the influence of the Brazil and Malvinas Currents, the westernboundary currents of the South Atlantic, on the Southwester Atlantic Shelf (SWAS) circulation.The SWAS extends from the tip of Tierra del Fuego (~55˚S), Argentina to Cabo Frio (~22˚S)Brazil. This is the largest continental shelf of the southern hemisphere and one of the mostbiologically productive areas of the world ocean. The circulation over the SWAS is highlyinfluenced by the neighboring western boundary currents. The influence of the Brazil Currentmanifests as periodic intrusions of South Atlantic Central Water onto the shelf. These intrusionsare driven by the passage of eddies and meanders and a permanent upwelling in the shelfbreakbottom boundary layer. The influence of the Malvinas Current on the shelf circulation is mostevident in the generation of shelfbreak upwelling but extends to the middle and inner shelf aswell. In this presentation we will use the results of numerical simulations and observations todiscuss the dynamical mechanisms by which these powerful boundary currents influence theshelf circulation.