What is it about?
Two methods were developed to create a 25-year long timeseries of the Brazil Current (BC) volume transport across 22°S using XBT data and altimetry. The main drivers of seasonal and interannual variability are investigated. In the summer of 2009/2010, the BC transport was three times stronger than its mean. The event was characterized by a 3°C warm sea surface temperature anomaly propagating westward into the region, and an associated anticyclonic wind stress anomaly. Results suggest that the BC strengthening was linked to a decreased near shore sea level of ~20 cm due to increased coastal upwelling, and an increased offshore sea level of 15cm influenced by the warm anomaly.
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Why is it important?
The Brazil Current (BC) transports warms tropical water southwards, creating a sea surface temperature front which s increased by the input of colder waters from coastal upwelling. This is important for regional air-sea interaction. In addition, heat anomalies were transported southward along the subtropical gyre following the BC path in a period of two months, which is consistent with advective timescales.
Perspectives
Potential implications for extreme sea level and summer precipitation events in South America are discussed. Global warming can increase the number of marine heat waves locally, increasing the coastal upwelling due to anticyclonic wind anomalies, and also decrease coastal sea level.
Dr. Marlos Goes
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Long‐term monitoring of the Brazil Current transport at 22°S from XBT and altimetry data: seasonal, interannual and extreme variability, Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, May 2019, American Geophysical Union (AGU),
DOI: 10.1029/2018jc014809.
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