Expedition Gathers Data on CO2 Flows Over the Ocean

Hello reader!

It follows a note published on the day (06/28) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) informing that expedition gathers Data on CO2 flows over the Ocean.

Duda Falcão

Expedition Gathers Data on

CO2 Flows Over the Ocean

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – INPE) has participated this month in a weather and oceanographic expedition along the coast of Southern Brazil to collect data from the carbon dioxide flow (CO2) over the sea. For the first time, it was used a micrometeorological station specially designed to perform measurements of the CO2 transfer between ocean and atmosphere.

The new station, integrated at the Institute in collaboration with Scott Miller, a researcher for the University at Albany (United States), allowed the collection of information to be used in projects like the Atlantic Ocean Carbon Experiment (ACEx), coordinated by the researcher Luciano Pezzi, of INPE.

"These are important new data on the atmospheric flows regimes in the region called Southwest Atlantic. With these data, we will improve the knowledge of chemical, physical and dynamic processes of ocean-atmosphere interaction, as well as the trade flows on that interface," said Luciano Pezzi.

Studies on the CO2 balance are important to understand the climate connections among ocean, atmosphere and South American continent. Besides contributing to academic knowledge, with the publication of papers and theses, the outcomes of this data analysis should reflect improvements in weather and climate forecasting for Southern and Southeastern Brazil.

It was also observed the variability of ocean currents on the coast of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states. Data were collected on the system of ocean currents called "the Brazil Current," warmer and more saline than the "Brazilian Costal Current", which becomes colder and less saline due to freshwater discharged by the River Plate.

In addition to oceanographic sampling, balloons were launched to probe the atmosphere. This information will be applied in the Integrated System of Weather, Climate and Ocean Monitoring (SIMTECO).

“This monitoring is crucial to better understand the impact of such currents in the atmosphere. This knowledge might help to improve weather and climate forecasting of Southern Brazil, as well as its impacts on the shoreline of Rio Grande do Sul,” said the researcher of INPE.

The expedition has been performed from June 11 to 21, aboard the “Cruzeiro do Sul” Oceanographic Ship, from Itajaí (SC) to Paranaguá (PR) and then has traveled the coast up to Chui (RS). This region is important for the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Researchers from INPE, University of Itajubá (Unifei), University of Rio Grande (FURG) and University of Santa Maria (UFSM) have participated in the oceanographic cruise.