Variabilidade espaço-temporal do padrão de ventos do setor Oeste do Oceano Atlântico Equatorial

Abstract

The winds are one forcing key for oceanographic applications, as they are a major determinant of ocean circulation. In addition, the winds are key to understanding the flow of energy, mass and gases between the atmosphere and oceans. In this sense, the objective of this study is to determine the spatial and temporal variability of the wind patterns in the western portion of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean (4° N - 6.7° S, 52° W - 32.3° W). For both 25 years (1987-2011) data of speed and direction of winds in the Cross - Calibrated Multi - Platform Ocean Surface Wind Vector (CCMP) program were used. Program derived from measurements collected by various satellites, weather stations and data from numerical modeling. Data hold time 5 days a spatial resolution of 25 km. In this project the methodology of harmonic analysis will be used to quantify the annual variability inter and intra-anual data. In the initial phase of the project, the results show that in general the winds are predominantly from the east / southeast with higher intensities (7-8 m / s) occurring in the continental shelf region adjacent to the states of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte. The largest standard (3-4 m / s) deviations occur in the meridional component of the wind in the region above the equator. The year 1987 has presented speeds up to 28% higher than the average, and minor deviations in the zonal and meridional components in the region comprising the states of Maranhão, Piauí and Ceará. Stronger winds occur in the months of July, August and September, and predominantly from the southeast across the region. Overall CCMP represented correctly variability Timeline of winds in the area because when compared with in situ data from the Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA), we obtained a good correlation in the behavior of speeds and directions throughout the study period.