Spatial-Temporal Variability of the Thermohaline Properties in the Coastal Region of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil

• Published in: Journal of coastal research 2016-03, Vol.75 (sp1), p.512-516
• Main Authors: Assunção, Ramilla V., Silva, Alex C., Martins, José, Flores Montes, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia; Archipelagoes; Archipelagos; Biodiversity; Climate change; Coastal areas; Coastal zone; Coasts; Complement; CONTINENTAL SHELVES AND SLOPES; Dry season; Dry seasons; Fluid dynamics; Island; Islands; Marine; Nitrates; nutrient; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrients; Oceanic islands; Oceans; Rainy season; Rainy seasons; Salinity; Sea water; Seas; Seasons; Stations; Surface water; thermohaline properties; Thermohalines; Tropical regions
• ISSN: 0749-0208; 1551-5036
• DOI: 10.2112/SI75-103.1

Assunção, R.V.; Silva, A.C.; Martins, J., and Flores Montes, M., 2016. Spatial-Temporal variability of the thermohaline properties in the coastal region of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and Mc Carroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 512–516. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Brazilian oceanic islands are areas of great environmental, scientific, economic and strategic interest for the country. A better understanding of the thermohaline and hydrodynamic properties is fundamental to complement studies of chemical and biological processes active on the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, located between 03° 52′S and 32° 25′W. The aim of this work was to verify the coastal thermohaline behavior of the most inhabited part of the island, on a seasonal and spatial scale and how it is associated with the nutrient distribution data. Four campaigns were conducted in 2013 and 2014, two during the wet season and two during the dry season. For each period, data were collect at five stations. The results show that during the rainy season temperature increases and salinity decreases in the surface layer. Spatially no large differences are observed. Regarding to nutrient concentration, seasonal concentrations are quite homogeneous in the waters of the archipelago region. The coastal region was characterized by tropical mass water.