Currents on the continental shelf adjacent to the Laje de Santos (SP, Brazil)

Abstract

Analysis of current meter data permitted the elaboration of a description of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the continental shelf adjacent to Laje de Santos, a rocky islet located in the inner part of the Sao Paulo Continental Shelf (SPCS). The currents in the region are mainly driven by the synoptic winds, presenting bidirectional motions approximately parallel to the local isobaths at all levels, depending on the wind direction but with the predominance of those that leave the isobaths to the left. The tidal currents in this sector of the SPCS are more energetic in the direction perpendicular to the isobaths in comparison with the along isobath component and have the predominance of the semidiurnal oscillations.