Intermediate Water (AIW), the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), and the
Circumpolar Upper Water (CUW) (Silveira et al. 2000).
The TW is superficial, warm and salty due to the strong solar radiation and
evaporation which characterizes the Tropical Atlantic (Silveira et al. 2000). While
the TW is carried to the south by the BC, it is mixed with the Coastal Water (CW)
current which is less warm and salty. Consequently, the TW is characterized by
temperatures higher than 20 °C and salinities higher than 36 % along the southeastern coast (Silveira et al. 2000).
The SACW is characterized by temperatures between 6 and 20 °C and salinities
between 34.6 and 36 %. It is formed by the sinking of a water mass at the Atlantic
Subtropical Convergence. When it meets the southern border of the SASG, it
spreads to the northwest forming the South Atlantic and Benguela Currents.
Afterwards it returns to the South America continental margin, carried by the
SAEC. Part of the SACW flows to the north towards the equator while the other
branch flows southwards below the TW (Silveira et al. 2000).
The AIW flows between depths of 700 and 750 m and is characterized by
temperatures ranging from 3 to 6 °C and salinities ranging from 34.2 to 34.5 %
(Silveira et al. 2000). The AIW divides into two branches that flow northwards at
28°S and southwards at 25°S (Silveira et al. 2000).
Fig. 9.1 Principal marine currents and Brazilian sedimentary basins in the South Atlantic Ocean
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303
Circumpolar Upper Water (CUW) (Silveira et al. 2000).
The TW is superficial, warm and salty due to the strong solar radiation and
evaporation which characterizes the Tropical Atlantic (Silveira et al. 2000). While
the TW is carried to the south by the BC, it is mixed with the Coastal Water (CW)
current which is less warm and salty. Consequently, the TW is characterized by
temperatures higher than 20 °C and salinities higher than 36 % along the southeastern coast (Silveira et al. 2000).
The SACW is characterized by temperatures between 6 and 20 °C and salinities
between 34.6 and 36 %. It is formed by the sinking of a water mass at the Atlantic
Subtropical Convergence. When it meets the southern border of the SASG, it
spreads to the northwest forming the South Atlantic and Benguela Currents.
Afterwards it returns to the South America continental margin, carried by the
SAEC. Part of the SACW flows to the north towards the equator while the other
branch flows southwards below the TW (Silveira et al. 2000).
The AIW flows between depths of 700 and 750 m and is characterized by
temperatures ranging from 3 to 6 °C and salinities ranging from 34.2 to 34.5 %
(Silveira et al. 2000). The AIW divides into two branches that flow northwards at
28°S and southwards at 25°S (Silveira et al. 2000).
Fig. 9.1 Principal marine currents and Brazilian sedimentary basins in the South Atlantic Ocean
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303