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Sea surface temperature anomalies driven by oceanic local forcing in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence

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Abstract

Sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly events in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) were investigated through wavelet analysis and numerical modeling. Wavelet analysis was applied to recognize the main spectral signals of SST anomaly events in the BMC and in the Drake Passage as a first attempt to link middle and high latitudes. The numerical modeling approach was used to clarify the local oceanic dynamics that drive these anomalies. Wavelet analysis pointed to the 8–12-year band as the most energetic band representing remote forcing between high to middle latitudes. Other frequencies observed in the BMC wavelet analysis indicate that part of its variability could also be forced by low-latitude events, such as El Niño. Numerical experiments carried out for the years of 1964 and 1992 (cold and warm El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases) revealed two distinct behaviors that produced negative and positive sea surface temperature anomalies on the BMC region. The first behavior is caused by northward cold flow, Río de la Plata runoff, and upwelling processes. The second behavior is driven by a southward excursion of the Brazil Current (BC) front, alterations in Río de la Plata discharge rates, and most likely by air-sea interactions. Both episodes are characterized by uncoupled behavior between the surface and deeper layers.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the National Counsil of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq), and São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for their support. The first author was funded by FAPESP 2007/06782-0 and Atlantic Carbon Experiment (ACEx-CNPq) 558108/2009–1. Luciano Ponzi Pezzi acknowledges support from CNPq, as a contribution for the PQ (CNPq) project number 304633/2012-7. Two anonymous reviewers provided comments, which reflected substantial improvements to this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Space Research (INPE), SERE II, sala 12, Avenida dos Astronautas, 1758, 12227-010, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Isabel Porto da Silveira & Luciano Ponzi Pezzi

  2. Center for Weather Forecast and Climate Studies (CPTEC), Av. dos Astronautas, 1758, 12227-010, São José dos Campos, Brazil

    Isabel Porto da Silveira

  3. Earth Observation General Coordination (OBT), Av. dos Astronautas, 1758, 12227-010, São José dos Campos, Brazil

    Luciano Ponzi Pezzi

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  1. Isabel Porto da Silveira
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Correspondence to Isabel Porto da Silveira.

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Responsible Editor: Aida Alvera-Azcárate

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da Silveira, I.P., Pezzi, L.P. Sea surface temperature anomalies driven by oceanic local forcing in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence. Ocean Dynamics 64, 347–360 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-014-0699-4

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