Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Daniel J. Ford, Gavin H. Tilstone, Jamie D. Shutler, Vassilis Kitidis, Katy L. Sheen, Giorgio Dall'Olmo, Iole B. M. Orselli
Summary: Mesoscale eddies, both anticyclonic and cyclonic, have been found to act as net sinks for CO2 in the South Atlantic Ocean over their lifetimes, with anticyclonic eddies showing an exponential decrease in net CO2 sink and cyclonic eddies showing a linear increase. The cumulative impact of these eddies significantly enhances the CO2 sink into the South Atlantic Ocean. Resolving eddies explicitly is crucial for assessing the ocean carbon sink.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Mengmeng Li, Chongguang Pang, Xiaomei Yan, Linlin Zhang, Zhiliang Liu
Summary: Using innovative methods, this study investigates the climatological characteristics of interactions between eddies, low-frequency fluctuations, and the mean flow in the Agulhas Retroflection Current System. The results show that eddies are primarily generated by mixed barotropic and baroclinic instabilities, with barotropic instability contributing significantly more to the eddy kinetic energy than baroclinic instability. The study also reveals the important role of nonlocal transport in the energy source of the eddy field and the different contributions of forward and inverse kinetic energy cascades to the low-frequency variability.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Elias Azar, Andres Pinango, Monica Wallner-Kersanach, Rodrigo Kerr
Summary: This study illustrates how different Subtropical Mode Water types influence the upper thermocline of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, showing that 18 Degree Water and Madeira Mode Water play key roles in the North Atlantic. Additionally, Subtropical Mode Water from different regions affect the structure and currents of the South Atlantic.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Sina Wallschuss, Mhlangabezi Mdutyana, Ruan G. Parrott, Heather J. Forrer, Raymond Roman, David R. Walker, Isabelle J. Ansorge, Sarah E. Fawcett
Summary: The Agulhas eddies have significant impacts on carbon and nitrogen cycling in the Cape Basin, with lower productivity at the eddy center and enhanced nutrient supply and consumption at the eddy edges.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luciano P. Pezzi, Ronald B. de Souza, Marcelo F. Santini, Arthur J. Miller, Jonas T. Carvalho, Claudia K. Parise, Mario F. Quadro, Eliana B. Rosa, Flavio Justino, Ueslei A. Sutil, Mylene J. Cabrera, Alexander V. Babanin, Joey Voermans, Ernani L. Nascimento, Rita C. M. Alves, Gabriel B. Munchow, Joel Rubert
Summary: Sea surface temperature anomalies caused by warm core eddies in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean have a significant impact on modifying the marine atmospheric boundary layer, increasing heat fluxes and wind speeds, and causing the ocean to act as a CO2 source in midlatitudes. The CO2 fluxes are closely related to SST, with higher SST within warm core eddies leading to larger flux magnitudes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
S. Ponce de Leon, C. Guedes Soares
Summary: This study examines the generation of extreme waves in the Agulhas Current Retroflection as a result of strong wave-current interaction. High-resolution simulations using two third-generation wave models were performed, considering ocean surface currents, for a period of two years and six months. The study utilized high-resolution SWAN nested grids and investigated the effects of surface current velocities of mesoscale eddies on surface wave properties and energy.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luiz Alexandre A. Guerra, Guilherme N. Mill, Afonso M. Paiva
Summary: The Agulhas rings play a crucial role in transporting warm and salty waters, nourishing the surface circulation of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. They are responsible for advecting mode waters from the Cape Basin to the western side of the Atlantic. The interaction with bottom topography and other vortices, ocean-atmosphere exchanges, and decay are all factors that affect the spreading of mode waters.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Jingyi Li, Fei Li, Shengping He, Huijun Wang, Yvan J. Orsolini
Summary: The Tibetan Plateau is strongly affected by variations in surface air temperature, which is in turn influenced by the Atlantic multidecadal variability. During the warm phase of the AMV, a negative NAO persists from February to March, inducing anomalous warming of the TP. However, this connection is broken during the cold phase of the AMV.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Curbelo-Hernandez, M. Gonzalez-Davila, A. G. Gonzalez, D. Gonzalez-Santana, J. M. Santana-Casiano
Summary: The seasonal and spatial variability of CO2 system parameters and CO2 air-sea exchange were studied in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, with temperature being the main driving factor for fCO(2,sw). The air-sea CO2 exchange was controlled by temperature, with the region acting as a CO2 sink during cold months and a source during warm months. The calculated average CO2 flux for the entire area was -2.65 +/- 0.44 TgCO(2) yr(-1) (-0.72 +/- 0.12 TgC yr(-1).
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hui Gao, Wei-Jun Cai, Meibing Jin, Changming Dong, Amanda H. Timmerman
Summary: The South Atlantic Ocean is an important region for anthropogenic CO2 uptake and storage. Using a multiple linear regression method with characteristic water masses, this study estimated the change in anthropogenic CO2 between the 1980s and 2010s in the South Atlantic Ocean. The overall increase rate was found to be 3.86 Pg C decade(-1), with differences observed between the western and eastern basins.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Agathe Germe, Joel J-M Hirschi, Adam T. Blaker, Bablu Sinha
Summary: This study investigates the variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) using an eddy-resolving ocean model. The research finds that intra-annual AMOC fluctuations are mainly driven by atmospheric forcing, with chaotic variability fraction not exceeding 26% of the total variance. It also reveals strong fluctuations in the barotropic and geostrophic AMOC contributions, linked to chaotic spatial variations of currents over topography.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Thiago S. Figueiredo, Bridget A. Bergquist, Thiago P. Santos, Ana Luiza S. Albuquerque, Emmanoel Vieira Silva-Filho
Summary: Pronounced changes in deep Atlantic circulation during glacial stages have significant impacts on global carbon distribution and the biogeochemical cycles of other elements. Previous studies have shown that oceanic mercury is sensitive to the same processes affecting the carbon cycle in glacial-interglacial time scales. We used mercury isotopes to investigate mercury cycling during the last two glacial-interglacial transitions in the subtropical western South Atlantic.
Article
Oceanography
Huan Mei, Jianxin Dong, Xiangbai Wu
Summary: This study investigates the influence of the meridional shift of the oceanic subtropical front (STF) on the regime shifts of the Agulhas Current (AC). Satellite observations and an ocean model are used to analyze the AC flow patterns. The results show that the northward shift of the STF leads to AC leaping across the gap, while the southward shift results in AC intruding into the Atlantic Ocean. The model reproduces the observed AC regimes and helps explain the observed Agulhas leakage.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Artemis Ioannou, Sabrina Speich, Remi Laxenaire
Summary: Motivated by the formation of eddies in upwelling areas, this study examines the connectivity between the eastern and western boundaries of the Atlantic Ocean. Through satellite observations and tracking algorithms, the study characterizes the activity and variability of mesoscale eddies and finds that they can maintain strong connections between boundaries through complex interactions. Moreover, the alignment of South Atlantic eddies with in-situ measurements supports the idea that they sustain and transport water masses during their westward propagation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Denis L. Volkov, Shahriar Negahdaripour
Summary: This article uses optical flow technique to track the motion pathways of mesoscale eddies in the South Atlantic Ocean, revealing the temporal evolution and interaction of eddies with the background flow and bottom topography. The results demonstrate the reliability of optical flow in detecting the time-variable part of eddy motion.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea da Consolacao de Oliveira Carvalho, Rodrigo Kerr, Virginia Maria Tavano, Carlos Rafael B. Mendes
Summary: The structure of phytoplankton community in the southwestern South Atlantic Ocean is influenced by environmental variables, particularly sea-air CO2 net fluxes. The relationship between phytoplankton and CO2 dynamics is complex and has not been extensively studied. This research investigates the interaction between CO2 uptake and dominant phytoplankton groups in the region. It is found that the biology of the region plays an important role in the modulation of CO2 fluxes. The study also identifies two distinct biogeochemical regions divided by a transitional zone, with different phytoplankton and CO2 behavior patterns.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Cintia Albuquerque, Rodrigo Kerr, Thiago Monteiro, Iole Beatriz Marques Orselli, Mariah de Carvalho-Borges, Andrea da Consolacao de Oliveira Carvalho, Eunice da Costa Machado, Julia Kalid Mansur, Margareth da Silva Copertino, Carlos Rafael Borges Mendes
Summary: An unprecedented investigation was conducted to study the seasonal variability of carbonate system parameters in the Patos Lagoon Estuary. The study found that the estuary had alkaline conditions throughout the year, with surface waters generally being supersaturated with calcium carbonate. However, during winter and spring, undersaturation conditions were observed. The study also revealed that the dominant processes influencing changes in the carbonate system were salt dilution and concentration. Nonthermal effects had a greater impact on seasonal changes in pCO(2) than thermal effects.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thiago Monteiro, Matheus Batista, Sian Henley, Eunice da Costa Machado, Moacyr Araujo, Rodrigo Kerr
Summary: The western Tropical Atlantic Ocean is a complex region for carbon cycle dynamics, with three distinct sub-regions showing different sea-air CO2 exchanges. The Amazon River plume waters play a crucial role in carbon uptake in this region. The carbon dynamics in the North Brazil Current and North Equatorial Current waters are sensitive to global climate change.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andres Pinango, Rodrigo Kerr, Iole Beatriz Marques Orselli, Andrea da Consolacao Oliveira Carvalho, Elias Azar, Johannes Karstensen, Carlos Alberto Eiras Garcia
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in the carbonate system properties and C-ant accumulation rates in the South Atlantic. The results showed that from 1989 to 2019, the average change in C-ant column inventory was 0.94 mol C m(-2) yr(-1), with C-ant accumulation rates of 0.89 mu mol kg(-1) yr(-1) and 0.30 mu mol kg(-1) yr(-1) in central and intermediate waters, respectively. Additionally, higher acidification rates were observed in intermediate waters, and increased remineralization was found near the African coast.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carlos Rafael Borges Mendes, Raul Rodrigo Costa, Afonso Ferreira, Bruno Jesus, Virginia Maria Tavano, Tiago Segabinazzi Dotto, Miguel Costa Leal, Rodrigo Kerr, Carolina Antuarte Islabao, Andrea de Oliveira da Rocha Franco, Mauricio M. M. Mata, Carlos Alberto Eiras Garcia, Eduardo Resende Secchi
Summary: Based on a 11-year in-situ dataset, researchers found that cryptophytes are gradually replacing diatoms as the basis of the food web in the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). Their study demonstrates a strong coupling between cryptophyte biomass accumulation, summer upper ocean stability, and mixed layer depth. These findings shed light on the importance of niche separation between diatoms and cryptophytes in understanding the WAP marine ecosystem.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Luis Henrique Bordin, Eunice Da C. Machado, Carlos R. B. Mendes, Elisa H. L. Fernandes, Mauricio G. Camargo, Rodrigo Kerr, Carlos A. Schettini
Summary: The study evaluated the influence of meteoceanographic variability on pelagic ecosystem metabolism in the subtropical Patos Lagoon Estuary, Brazil. Heterotrophic predominance was observed, with the driving forces for gross primary production and respiration being related to various environmental factors. The study highlights the need for further investigation into carbon species in the estuary for a better understanding of aquatic ecosystem metabolism. Rating: 8/10
JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Paulo Horta, Marina Sissini, Carolina Melissa Mueller, Fernanda M. M. Soares, Paulo Pagliosa, Leonardo Rorig, Jose Bonomi-Barufi, Flavio Berchez, Leticia Cotrim da Cunha, Rodrigo Kerr, Sergio Rossi, Marcelo O. Soares, Jorge L. Rodrigues-Filho, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Luciano Henning, Marcos Aurelio Espindola, Nicole Figueiredo de Oliveira, Alessandra Larissa Fonseca
Summary: Despite global needs, the Brazilian government plans to auction 92 blocks for oil and gas exploration, which would greatly increase the country's fossil fuel emissions. Government actions and omissions, including deforestation and weakening of environmental surveillance, highlight the urgent need for international discussions and barriers to the exploitation of fossil fuel reserves. The UN should take a leading role in orchestrating global efforts to reduce emissions and protect fragile sociobiodiversity.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nadege Bouchonneau, Arnaud Coutrey, Vivianne Marie Bruere, Moacyr Araujo, Alex Costa da Silva
Summary: This study proposes a numerical modeling methodology to assess the mechanical behavior of a wave energy converter (WEC) in Brazil. Different sea state scenarios were determined using oceanographic data collected in situ, and velocity profiles for maximum and operational swells were obtained using the Airy theory and second-order Stokes' theory. These profiles were then implemented in a flow model to calculate wave distributions of pressure on the WEC structure.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mauricio Santos-Andrade, Rodrigo Kerr, Iole B. M. Orselli, Thiago Monteiro, Mauricio M. Mata, Catherine Goyet
Summary: This study assessed long-term changes in carbonate chemistry in the Bransfield Strait and found that the hydrographic setting drives temporal variability of carbonate parameters. The western basin has experienced decreases in pH and O-ar over the last three decades. The central basin was characterized by a high contribution of Dense Shelf Water with high carbon dioxide content.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Review
Oceanography
Brendon Yuri Damini, Raul Rodrigo Costa, Tiago S. Dotto, Carlos Rafael Borges Mendes, Marina do V. C. Azaneu, Mauricio M. Mata, Rodrigo Kerr
Summary: The study investigated the characteristics of sea-air CO2 dynamics through the investigation of an anticyclonic stationary eddy called the Antarctica Slope Front bifurcation (ASFb) eddy, located south of Clarence Island in the eastern basin of Bransfield Strait. The results revealed that the ASFb eddy acts as a CO2 outgassing structure with a core consisting of carbon-rich waters. These findings provide important insights into the behavior of mesoscale features influencing sea-air CO2 exchanges in polar environments.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raul Rodrigo Costa, Afonso Ferreira, Marcio S. de Souza, Virginia M. Tavano, Rodrigo Kerr, Eduardo R. Secchi, Vanda Brotas, Tiago S. Dotto, Ana C. Brito, Carlos Rafael B. Mendes
Summary: The Northern Antarctic Peninsula is experiencing shifts in phytoplankton distribution and composition due to warming marine ecosystems. However, little attention has been given to the seasonal succession of phytoplankton and the distribution patterns of emerging taxa along the peninsula. In this study, we collected data on phytoplankton and physico-chemical variables during spring and summer seasons from 2013 to 2015. We found that emerging taxa, such as dinoflagellates and cryptophytes, had different distribution patterns and environmental preferences compared to centric and pennate diatoms. The relationship between sea ice concentration/duration and phytoplankton biomass was not consistent, suggesting the presence of top-down control on phytoplankton in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Thiago Monteiro, Sian F. Henley, Ricardo Cesar Goncalves Pollery, Carlos Rafael Borges Mendes, Mauricio Mata, Virginia Maria Tavano, Carlos Alberto Eiras Garcia, Rodrigo Kerr
Summary: The northern Antarctic Peninsula plays a crucial role in the Southern Ocean, and understanding the spatiotemporal variability of macronutrients is vital for the ecosystem and climate change response in this region.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Everton Giachini Tosetto, Sigrid Neumann-Leitao, Moacyr Araujo, Djoirka Minto Dimoune, Arnaud Bertrand, Miodeli Nogueira Jr
Summary: This study investigates the impact of the Amazon River freshwater plume on planktonic cnidarians in the Western Atlantic. The results show that the plume shapes marine habitats, creating a highly productive surface layer compressed by a deeper oxygen minimum zone. Planktonic cnidarian assemblages are diverse and abundant within the plume, while dominant species dominate outside the plume. The Amazon River plume is a crucial physical feature that significantly affects the dynamics of habitat structure in the Western Equatorial Atlantic Ocean.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Helen Michelle de Jesus Affe, Diogo Souza Bezerra Rocha, Fernanda Reinhardt Piedras, Gleyci Aparecida Oliveira Moser, Moacyr Cunha Filho de Araujo, Leticia Cotrim da Cunha
Summary: Measurements of the marine carbonate system on tropical and subtropical continental margins are poorly distributed in space and time, with uncertainties regarding carbon exchanges at the ocean-atmosphere interface. Using data from the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas, this study calculated sea-to-air CO2 fluxes along the Brazilian continental margin and investigated the role of ecoregions as potential CO2 sinks or sources. The results showed variability in seawater temperature, salinity, and pCO2 values among different ecoregions, with non-homogeneous spatio-temporal variations in CO2 fluxes.
OCEAN AND COASTAL RESEARCH
(2023)