Caracterização do clima de ondas na plataforma continental do Rio Grande do Norte, NE/Brasil, através do SMC-Brasil.

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the wave climate along the continental shelf of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), at intermediate depths, using the reanalysis of Downscaling Ocean 14/aves - DOW, between the years 1948 and 2008, which is a package ofthe SMC-Brasil. DOW points were calculated at hotspots of Coastal erosion, being: Laguna de Guaraíra, between the municipalities of Tibau do Sul and Senador Georgino Avelino; beach of Barreira do Inferno, municipality of Parnamirim; stretch between the beaches of Muriú and Jacumã, municipality of Ceará-Mirim; seafront of the municipality of Galinhos; besides the beach of Soledade and Ponta do Tubarão Island, municipality of Macau. The determination of representative DOW points of the study areas was performed based on occurrence probability tables. The comparison between the points was achieved by Linear Regression with Pearson Correlation Coefficient of the significant height (Hs) and peak period (Tp), both in regular and storm conditions. The waves reach the oriental platform of the state coming mostly from east-southeast and east directions, with a Tp range from 6 to 10s and Hs variating between 1.38 and 1.50 m. In the northern shelf, the predominant directions of waves are from the north to the east-southeast quadrant, with Tp values ranging from 5 to 15 s, and average heights between 1.10 and 1.20 m. The trade winds patterns form the principal wave propagation directions that reach the RN, with the oriental platform also receiving the atmospheric flow from the South Atlantic High Pressure System and the Easterly Wave Disturbances. The extreme events of Hs are more severe on the northern shelf, reaching 3.4 m, meanwhile waves up to 2.9 m are predicted for the eastern shelf.