Seasonal and Intraseasonal Variability of Wave Climate on the NE Brazilian Coast using a Nautical Radar System

• Published in: Journal of coastal research 2016-03, Vol.75 (sp1), p.927-931
• Main Authors: da Silva, Alex C., Bezerra, Cristiane S., Barcellos, Roberto L., Araújo, Moacyr, Bouchonneau, Nadège, Manso, Valdir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bathymetry; Climate; Climate models; Coastal engineering; Coastal environments; Coastal zone; Coasts; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetic waves; HYDRODYNAMICS (CONTEMPORARY PROCESSES); Marine; Monitoring systems; NE Brazilian coast; Observational research; Oceans; Offshore; Physical properties; Radar; Radar systems; Sandstone; Seas; Soil erosion; Studies; swell; Trade winds; Tropical regions; Wave height; Waves; Wind; wind sea waves; Wind velocity; X-band; X-band nautical radar
• ISSN: 0749-0208; 1551-5036
• DOI: 10.2112/SI75-186.1

Silva, A.C.; Bezerra, C.S.; Barcellos, R.L.; Araújo, M.; Bouchonneau, N. and Manso, V., 2016. Seasonal and intraseasonal variability of wave climate in the NE Brazilian coast by using Nautical Radar System. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 927–931. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This paper presents a study about wave climate acting on the Northeast coast of Brazil (Recife, Pernambuco) from the use of X-band nautical radar, which runs through the emission of electromagnetic waves and receives the signal by backscattering the sea surface. The main objective of this work is to obtain information about the wave acting on this coast, by analyzing significant height, period and direction of the incident waves, which will be helpful to generate a solid database for future coastal measures, engineering works of contention for coastal and marine protection. Data were obtained from polar images of X-band nautical radar, from April 2010 to April 2011. By analysing the results, it was possible to observe the joint occurrence of waves wind sea and swell in the region of study. Wind sea waves occur predominantly at 90° - 135°, with higher values at the end of September (3.9 m). Swell waves were more frequent during June, October and December 2010, and February and March 2011. Moreover, we observed a change in direction of the waves and decrease in wave heights along the inner shelf of the coast, caused by variation in bathymetry and the presence of sandstone reefs. The results of this study demonstrated great efficiency in acquiring the physical parameters of waves through the X-band nautical radar system, proving to be an efficient tool for measuring physical parameters of waves in coastal regions.