We compare the oceanic circulation patterns over the
Southwestern Atlantic Shelf (SWAS) forced by nine
different wind stress climatologies. The largest differences
are observed in experiments forced with the Hellerman
and Rosenstein [1983, hereafter HR83] and Trenberth
et al. [1990, hereafter TR90] winds. HR83 shows a
general northeastward flow near the shelf break. The
TR90 results shows a bifurcating path south of ~40°S
and a poleward flow north of 35°S. The most robust
circulation patterns are a broad northward flow and the
generation of coastal re-circulation cells in southern
Patagonia and the development of a southward jet in the
inner portion of the South Brazil Bight
