Resultados obtidos por meio do fundeio de um correntógrafo na Plataforma Continental do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Abstract

he study of the oceanic circulation in coastal areas is of great importance, due to their role in the transport of sediments, nutrients and heat. In spite of that, in Brazilian Northeast coast there is still an acute lack of such information. With a view to overcome this deficiency, an Aanderaa recording current meter was used to collect data on temperature, salinity, and current speed/direction on the continental shelf of Rio Grande do Norte State. The obtained results show that the area is under the influence of the South Equatorial Current/ North Brazil Current, with little variation of temperature and salinity, and relatively low current speed, with an average of 6.32 cm.s-1. This high environmental stability is favorable for the development of offshore marine fish farming activities.