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

A análise de dados correntográficos coletados em esforços observacionais recentes permitiu a descrição das características hidrodinâmicas da plataforma continental adjacente à Laje de Santos, situada na parte interna da Plataforma Continental de São Paulo (PCSP). As correntes nessa região são forçadas em primeira aproximação pelos ventos sinóticos, apresentando-se como movimentos bidirecionais quase paralelos às isóbatas em todos os níveis, dependentes da direção dos ventos, mas com predominância daqueles que deixam a isóbata à esquerda. As correntes de maré nessa parte da PCSP têm mais energia na direção perpendicular à isóbata, com predominância das oscilações semidiurnas.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 São 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

Modeling the dispersion of endocrine disruptors in the Santos Estuarine System (Sao Paulo State, Brazil)

Estrogens are hormones responsible for growth and reproduction. They are naturally synthesized by animals and humans alike. Xenoestrogens are identical to natural hormones, but they are man-made and used as oral contraceptives. Xenoestrogens are a specific group of drugs found in domestic wastewater and some environmental matrices. These compounds remain after conventional sewage treatment and, consequently, affect both the environment and non-target aquatic organisms. In this study, we used the Delft3D hydrodynamic model to estimate the amount of both natural and synthetic estrogens that have been released in the Estuarine System of Santos and São Vicente and the Santos Bay. The data on flow from the sewage treatment plants and on average concentrations of natural and synthetic estrogens released in aquatic environments were obtained from the literature. The results of the modeling showed higher concentrations of estrogens in the estuarine waters of the Largo Pompeba region, the São Vicente Canal, and the Santos Bay, which are regions that receive greater inflows of domestic sewage. The results also suggest that higher concentrations of estrogenic compounds are expected to be found in areas with higher levels of salinity.Estrogênios são hormônios responsáveis pelo crescimento e reprodução, sendo naturalmente sintetizados por animais e seres humanos. Os xenoestrogênios são hormônios idênticos aos naturais, porém fabricados pelo homem e utilizados como contraceptivos orais. Xenoestrogênios formam um grupo específico de fármacos encontrados em efluentes domésticos e em algumas matrizes ambientais. Estes compostos persistem nos tratamentos convencionais de esgotos e, consequentemente, atingem os ambientes e os organismos aquáticos não alvos. Neste trabalho, foi estimada a dispersão de estrogênios naturais e sintéticos quando estes são possivelmente lançados no Sistema Estuarino de Santos e São Vicente e Baía de Santos, utilizando o modelo hidrodinâmico Delft3D. Os dados das vazões de estações de tratamento de esgotos e de concentrações médias de estrogênios naturais e sintéticos lançadas nos ambientes aquáticos foram obtidos da literatura. Os resultados mostraram concentrações mais elevadas de estrogênios nas águas estuarinas da região do Largo da Pompeba, Canal de São Vicente, e na Baía de Santos, sendo estas as regiões que recebem maior aporte de esgotos domésticos. Os resultados da modelagem sugerem ainda que maiores concentrações dos compostos estrogênicos são esperadas nos locais com níveis mais elevados de salinidade

Numerical simulation of the hydrodynamic in the Curimataú estuary, RN Brazil

The Curimataú River estuary is a shallow partially mixed (type 2) tropical estuary, located in the Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, northeast Brazilian coast (lat. 06o18’S); the main system is composed by three rivers: Curimataú, Cunhaú and Guaratuba. The numerical model Delft3D-Flow was used to study hydrodynamic features of the estuary. The model predictions were evaluated using the Skill parameter based in the comparison of the theoretical solutions with observations of hourly values of tidal heights, currents and salinity at an anchor station located at the cell (M=279; N=323). The applied computational grid is curvilinear with around 6,000 horizontal wet points, including the inner shelf. Open boundary conditions was obtained from the analysis of 2.7 years of hourly tidal heights, recorded at Natal harbor, and the inner boundaries conditions were controlled by freshwater input into the three main rivers. Initial conditions of hydrographic properties were uniform in the previous simulations and, only the temperature was set to a constant value in whole simulation. The steady-state of the fields of velocity and thermohaline properties was reached after almost four weeks of simulation of the baroclinic mode. The best fit between the model and the observations was for the semidiurnal spring tide oscillation with a Skill=0.98; for the velocities and salinities simulations during this tidal condition the best mean Skills values were 0.82 and 0.94, respectively

Numerical study of circulation on the inner Amazon Shelf

Author Posting. © Springer, 2008. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Springer for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Ocean Dynamics 58 (2008): 187-198, doi:10.1007/s10236-008-0139-4.We studied the circulation on the coastal domain of the Amazon Shelf by applying the hydrodynamic module of the Estuarine and Coastal Ocean Model and Sediment Transport - ECOMSED. The first barotropic experiment aimed to explain the major bathymetric effects on tides and those generated by anisotropy in sediment distribution. We analyzed the continental shelf response of barotropic tides under realistic bottom stress parametrization (Cd), considering sediment granulometry obtained from a faciologic map, where river mud deposits and reworked sediments areas are well distinguished, among others classes of sediments. Very low Cd values were set in the fluid mud regions off the Amapa coast (1.0 10-4 ), in contrast to values around 3:5 10-3 for coarser sediment regions off the Para coast. Three-dimensional experiments represented the Amazon River discharge and trade winds, combined to barotropic tide influences and induced vertical mixing. The quasi-resonant response of the Amazon Shelf to the M2 tide act on the local hydrodynamics by increasing tidal admittance, along with tidal forcing at the shelf break and extensive fluid mud regions. Harmonic analysis of modeled currents agreed well with analysis of the AMASSEDS observational data set. Tidal-induced vertical shear provided strong homogenization of threshold waters, which are subject to a kind of hydraulic control due to the topographic steepness. Ahead of the hydraulic jump, the low-salinity plume is disconnected from the bottom and acquires negative vorticity, turning southeastward. Tides act as a generator mechanism and topography, via hydraulic control, as a maintainer mechanism for the low-salinity frontal zone positioning. Tidally induced southeastward plume fate is overwhelmed by northwestward trade winds so that, along with background circulation, probably play the most important role on the plume fate and variability over the Amazon Shelf

Modeling the dispersion of endocrine disruptors in the Santos Estuarine System (Sao Paulo State, Brazil)

Abstract Estrogens are hormones responsible for growth and reproduction. They are naturally synthesized by animals and humans alike. Xenoestrogens are identical to natural hormones, but they are man-made and used as oral contraceptives. Xenoestrogens are a specific group of drugs found in domestic wastewater and some environmental matrices. These compounds remain after conventional sewage treatment and, consequently, affect both the environment and non-target aquatic organisms. In this study, we used the Delft3D hydrodynamic model to estimate the amount of both natural and synthetic estrogens that have been released in the Estuarine System of Santos and São Vicente and the Santos Bay. The data on flow from the sewage treatment plants and on average concentrations of natural and synthetic estrogens released in aquatic environments were obtained from the literature. The results of the modeling showed higher concentrations of estrogens in the estuarine waters of the Largo Pompeba region, the São Vicente Canal, and the Santos Bay, which are regions that receive greater inflows of domestic sewage. The results also suggest that higher concentrations of estrogenic compounds are expected to be found in areas with higher levels of salinity

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 São 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

Sistema de previsão de marés para o litoral brasileiro e territórios de relevante interesse

The tides are frequent changes in the height of the sea surface, at a certain point, originated from the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun, combined with the movement of the earth. Its effects are more pronounced in coastal and shallow areas, where it undergoes amplification processes, reaching up to 15 meters between high tide and low in specific locations. The phenomenon of tides acts directly on different physical and biological coastal processes, and also in man-made aspects, such as the occupation of the coastal zone, navigation and use of beaches for tourism. Thus, tidal forecast is important both aspects of ecosystem, as socioeconomic. The aim of this study was to develop an online public consultation tool, with tabular and graphical representation of weather tides at specific points along the Brazilian coast, for the scientific, academic community, browsers, surfers and the general population; in order to disclose the name and UNESP activities related to Marine Sciences From the identification of some points of interest were collected constant harmonic tide tables provided by FEMAR (Sea Research Foundation). These harmonic constants were deployed on XTide software (version 2.13.2-4.fc20), installed on a Linux server. The implementation of this software enabled processing, visualization and presentation of results, which are accessible through a Web server located on the site of the Coastal Campus of São Vicente.As marés são alterações frequentes na altura da superfície dos oceanos, em um determinado ponto, originadas a partir das forças gravitacionais da Lua e do Sol, combinadas com o movimento da Terra. Seus efeitos são mais pronunciados nas zonas costeiras e em regiões rasas, onde sofre processos de amplificação, podendo chegar até 15 metros entre a maré alta e a baixa em locais específicos. O fenômeno de marés atua diretamente sobre diferentes processos costeiros físicos e biológicos, e também em aspectos antrópicos, como a ocupação da zona litorânea, navegação e utilização das praias para o turismo. Dessa maneira, a previsão de marés tem importância dos aspectos tanto ecossistêmicos, quanto socioeconômicos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver uma ferramenta de consulta pública online, com representação tabular e gráfica, de previsões de marés em pontos específicos do litoral brasileiro, destinado à comunidade científica, acadêmica, navegadores, surfistas e população em geral; de forma a divulgar o nome e as atividades da UNESP relacionadas às Ciências do Mar. A partir da identificação de alguns pontos de interesse foram coletadas constantes harmônicas de tábuas de marés disponibilizadas pela FEMAR (Fundação de Estudos do Mar). Estas constantes harmônicas foram implantadas no software XTide (versão 2.13.2-4.fc20), instalado em um servidor Linux. A implementação desse software possibilitou o processamento, visualização e apresentação dos resultados, que são acessíveis através de um servidor na Web localizado no site do Campus do Litoral Paulista

Heavy metals and TPH effects on microbial abundance and diversity in two estuarine areas of the southern-central coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

Coastal areas may be impacted by human and industrial activities, including contamination by wastewater, heavy metals and hydrocarbons. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of hydrocarbons (TPH) and metals on the microbiota composition and abundance in two estuarine systems in the coast of Sao Paulo: the Santos (SE) and Itanhaern (IE) estuaries. The SE was found to be chronically contaminated by heavy metals and highly contaminated by hydrocarbons. This finding was correlated with the increased density of cyanobacteria in sediments and suggests the possible use of cyanobacteria for bioremediation. These contaminants influence the density and composition of estuarine microbiota that respond to stress caused by human activity. The results are troubling because quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbiota of estuarine sediments may alter microbiological processes such as decomposition of organic matter. Moreover, this pollution can result in damage to the environment, biota and human health. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Assessing the water quality of a subtropical estuary after a major fire and the use of large amounts of Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFFs)

In April 2015, a major chemical fire, followed by the massive use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs), occurred at a petrochemical terminal at the Port of Santos (Southeast Brazil). At least 62,000 L of AFFFs from eight brands were mixed with estuarine waters and used to control the fire, causing the release of large amounts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the Santos Estuarine System (SES). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), included in the global treaty of the Stockholm Convention, have been detected in AFFFs. The resulting effluent that drained into the estuary was toxic to marine invertebrates, producing adverse effects on marine invertebrates at a 0.01% dilution, much lower than that recommended by AFFFs manufacturers. According to the hydrodynamic model applied, the leaked material spread across the SES by tidal currents and was dispersed in the following weeks. The toxicity of estuarine waters was monitored for up to one year after the event, and adverse effects on different invertebrate species were observed in a spacetemporal variable form. The results showed that the fire caused the degradation of estuarine waters in the SES, but other pollution sources also contributed to water toxicity.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP