OCEANOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ARGENTINEAN CONTINENTAL SHELF AND THE RÍO DE LA PLATA. A CO-OPERATION PROJECT BETWEEN CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES DEL MAR Y LA ATMÓSFERA (CIMA/CONICET-UBA), ARGENTINA AND ZENTRUM FÜR MEERES- UND KLIMAFORSCHUNG (ZMK) OF HA

SIMIONATO, C. G.

Concepción, Chile

Workshop; First Latin American School in Ocean and Climate Ocean Modelling. Program for Regional Studies in Physical Oceanography and Climate; 2000

University of Concepción

The objective of this co-operation effort is to develop 3-D baroclinic models for the Argentinean Continental Shelf and the Río de la Plata. HAMSOM (Hamburg Shelf Ocean Model) has been adapted to the region and is been applied at CIMA as a set of three one way nested models.   The first goals of the development and application of numerical models for investigations in the area are: ·         To understand and describe the physical systems and its behaviour under the influence of the driving forces ·         Atmospheric forcing (wind, air pressure, heat fluxes, etc.) ·         Tides and waves ·         Fresh water discharge ·         Interaction with the continental shelf/open ocean (salt water intrusion – maritime front, outer circulation system) ·         To provide a tool for simulations and predictions of coastal zone management purposes: ·         Storm surge warnings ·         Pollution dispersion control ·         Estimation of influences of construction measures (water ways, harbours, guide walls, etc.) It is expected that in the future the model will be used as well to conduct climate research in the area.   At a first approach to the goals, the model hierarchy has been applied to study the 3-D tide propagation and dynamics. Comparison to observations show that HAMSOM model properly reproduces the observed tide regime, giving excellent estimations of the observed values.   The next step in this investigation will be the incorporation to the model of the wind effect. At the moment being studies are started in order to model the seasonal wind driven circulation. After this is done, experiments will be conducted in order to built up a storm surge model system able to be applied with management purposes.   The final step in the model construction will be the addition of the temperature and salinity fields into the simulation, what requires the incorporation into the model of all of the ocean-atmosphere interaction processes.   During the seminar, the last results of the research will be shown and discussed.