A high-resolution, finite element-based, shallow water equation model is developed to simulate the tides in the South Atlantic Bight. The model is constructed to include all of the estuarine features along the southeastern United States seaboard: coastal inlets, rivers and tidal creeks, sounds and lagoons, intertidal zones including salt marshes and mangrove swamps, and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The estuaries are represented in the finite element mesh using triangular elements with side lengths on the order of tens of meters. Also incorporated into the model is a spatially distributed bottom friction parameterization, based on the various landcover and benthic characteristics in the domain. The motivation to use this comprehensive representation of the system was inspired by a desire to capably account for the full estuarine tidal physics. In this approach, no calibration is performed and the model is used as a tool to assess the physical processes it describes. Upon its development, the model is first validated by accurately simulating tidal hydrodynamics in the South Atlantic Bight including the described estuaries. Variants of the model are then constructed by selectively removing estuarine features from the domain. All model representations are subsequently applied in nearly identical simulations: the only differing factor between the simulations being the inland extent of the estuaries described. The solutions are compared with respect to including versus excluding the estuarine features of the domain. Where water surface elevations are shown to be unaffected by the estuarine features of the South Atlantic Bight, tidal velocities exhibit far more sensitivity. This effect is pronounced locally, with regional effects extending offshore. Further analysis is performed on cross-sectional flows recomposed locally and on tidal energetics diagnosed throughout the domain. It is discovered that the high frictional environment of the vast estuarine surface area plays a role in local and regional tidal circulation in the South Atlantic Bight.

Bibliography: leaves 378-402. / xviii, 402 leaves : ill. (chiefly col.), maps (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Explores the status and nature of interpretation within the Australian whale watching industry, on both a national scale and as it is practiced at three diverse case study sites along the southern coast, and develops strategies which may enable this form of tourism to reach it's highest educative potential / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geographical and Environmental Studies, 2000

Oscilações subinerciais da elevação da superfície livre do mar na Plataforma Continental Sudeste (PCSE) foram estudadas por meio de modelagem numérica computacional. Os campos atmosféricos utilizados nos experimentos foram obtidos da reanálise NCEP-DOE AMIP II e o modelo hidrodinâmico DELFT-3D Flow foi empregado. A validação dos resultados dos experimentos numéricos foi realizada por comparação com observações. Foram realizadas simulações para o verão de 2003, para o inverno de 2004 e para mais quatro cenários de ventos sintéticos, simulando a propagação de frentes frias climatológicas (obtidas neste estudo). Verificamos que na porção sul (norte) da região passaram 3,6 (2,9) frentes frias por mês durante o inverno e 3,4 (1,3) durante o verão. Esta diferença entre as regiões norte e sul mostrou que alguns eventos não percorreram toda a região, sendo isso mais frequente no verão. A passagem de frentes frias provocou a propagação de oscilações subinerciais da superfície do mar, confinadas junto à costa, com comprimento de onda de aproximadamente 2000 km, duração de 50 h e amplitude média de 0,3 m, tanto no verão quanto no inverno. Nas simulações em que as frentes frias não percorreram toda a PCSE, oscilações subinerciais da superfície do mar também foram geradas e se propagaram para o norte com características semelhantes àquelas geradas pelas frentes frias que percorreram toda a PCSE. As oscilações subinerciais na região norte da PCSE estiveram melhor correlacionadas com a componente do vento perpendicular à costa da região de Paranaguá-Cananéia e com a componente do vento paralelo à costa da região de Imbituba-São Francisco. Forçantes externas à PCSE também excitaram oscilações subinerciais, principalmente com período superior a 7 dias. As oscilações subinerciais com períodos inferiores (superiores) a 7 (9) dias foram geradas desde o extremo sul (ao sul) da Plataforma Continental Sudeste até a região de Cananéia-Paranaguá e contribuíram com cerca de 40% (12%) da variância subinercial. As oscilações subinerciais analisadas tiveram características de Ondas de Plataforma Continental. / The subinertial oscillations of the sea level in the South Brazil Bight (SBB) were studied using computational numerical models. The atmospheric fields used in the experiments were obtained from the NCEP-DOE AMIP II reanalysis and the DELFT-3D hydrodynamic model was used. The validation of the numerical experiments results was conducted by comparison with observations. Simulations were conducted for the summer 2003, for the winter 2004 and for other four scenarios with synthetic winds, simulating the cold fronts propagation (attained in this study). We verified that in the south (north) part of the SBB there were 3.6 (2.9) passing through during the winter and 3.4 (1.3) during summer. This difference between the south and north SBB regions showed that part of the events did not cover the whole SBB, being this more frequent during the summer. The cold front passages excited the propagation of subinertial sea level oscillations, trapped along the coastline, with approximately 2000 km of wavelength, 50 h of duration and 0.3 m of mean amplitude, both in the summer and in the winter. In the simulations in that the cold fronts did not pass through the whole SBB, sea level subinertial oscillations were also generated and propagated towards north with characteristics similar to the ones generated by the cold fronts that passed through the whole SBB. The subinertial oscillations in the north part of the SBB were better correlated with the wind component perpendicular to the coastline in the Paranaguá-Cananéia region and with the wind component parallel to the coastline in the Imbituba-São Francisco region. Forcing external to the SBB also excited subinertial oscillations, specially with periods higher than 7 days. Subinertial oscillations with periods lower (higher) than 7 (9) days were generated from the south boundary of the SBB (south of the SBB) to the Cananéia-Paranaguá region and contributed with approximately 40% (12%) of the subinertial variance. The subinertial oscillations analyzed had characteristics of Continental Shelf Waves.

Oscilações subinerciais da elevação da superfície livre do mar na Plataforma Continental Sudeste (PCSE) foram estudadas por meio de modelagem numérica computacional. Os campos atmosféricos utilizados nos experimentos foram obtidos da reanálise NCEP-DOE AMIP II e o modelo hidrodinâmico DELFT-3D Flow foi empregado. A validação dos resultados dos experimentos numéricos foi realizada por comparação com observações. Foram realizadas simulações para o verão de 2003, para o inverno de 2004 e para mais quatro cenários de ventos sintéticos, simulando a propagação de frentes frias climatológicas (obtidas neste estudo). Verificamos que na porção sul (norte) da região passaram 3,6 (2,9) frentes frias por mês durante o inverno e 3,4 (1,3) durante o verão. Esta diferença entre as regiões norte e sul mostrou que alguns eventos não percorreram toda a região, sendo isso mais frequente no verão. A passagem de frentes frias provocou a propagação de oscilações subinerciais da superfície do mar, confinadas junto à costa, com comprimento de onda de aproximadamente 2000 km, duração de 50 h e amplitude média de 0,3 m, tanto no verão quanto no inverno. Nas simulações em que as frentes frias não percorreram toda a PCSE, oscilações subinerciais da superfície do mar também foram geradas e se propagaram para o norte com características semelhantes àquelas geradas pelas frentes frias que percorreram toda a PCSE. As oscilações subinerciais na região norte da PCSE estiveram melhor correlacionadas com a componente do vento perpendicular à costa da região de Paranaguá-Cananéia e com a componente do vento paralelo à costa da região de Imbituba-São Francisco. Forçantes externas à PCSE também excitaram oscilações subinerciais, principalmente com período superior a 7 dias. As oscilações subinerciais com períodos inferiores (superiores) a 7 (9) dias foram geradas desde o extremo sul (ao sul) da Plataforma Continental Sudeste até a região de Cananéia-Paranaguá e contribuíram com cerca de 40% (12%) da variância subinercial. As oscilações subinerciais analisadas tiveram características de Ondas de Plataforma Continental. / The subinertial oscillations of the sea level in the South Brazil Bight (SBB) were studied using computational numerical models. The atmospheric fields used in the experiments were obtained from the NCEP-DOE AMIP II reanalysis and the DELFT-3D hydrodynamic model was used. The validation of the numerical experiments results was conducted by comparison with observations. Simulations were conducted for the summer 2003, for the winter 2004 and for other four scenarios with synthetic winds, simulating the cold fronts propagation (attained in this study). We verified that in the south (north) part of the SBB there were 3.6 (2.9) passing through during the winter and 3.4 (1.3) during summer. This difference between the south and north SBB regions showed that part of the events did not cover the whole SBB, being this more frequent during the summer. The cold front passages excited the propagation of subinertial sea level oscillations, trapped along the coastline, with approximately 2000 km of wavelength, 50 h of duration and 0.3 m of mean amplitude, both in the summer and in the winter. In the simulations in that the cold fronts did not pass through the whole SBB, sea level subinertial oscillations were also generated and propagated towards north with characteristics similar to the ones generated by the cold fronts that passed through the whole SBB. The subinertial oscillations in the north part of the SBB were better correlated with the wind component perpendicular to the coastline in the Paranaguá-Cananéia region and with the wind component parallel to the coastline in the Imbituba-São Francisco region. Forcing external to the SBB also excited subinertial oscillations, specially with periods higher than 7 days. Subinertial oscillations with periods lower (higher) than 7 (9) days were generated from the south boundary of the SBB (south of the SBB) to the Cananéia-Paranaguá region and contributed with approximately 40% (12%) of the subinertial variance. The subinertial oscillations analyzed had characteristics of Continental Shelf Waves.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido dentro do contexto da hidrodinâmica da plataforma continental, com o objetivo de estudar a variabilidade subinercial das correntes no extremo norte na Plataforma Continental Sudeste brasileira. A região de estudo está localizada nas proximidades de Cabo Frio (RJ) e Arraial do Cabo (RJ) (aproximadamente 23º S / 42º W). Apesar de ser uma região bastante conhecida e estudada, em função do fenômeno da ressurgência costeira que ocorre em suas proximidades, pouco se conhece sobre a circulação subinercial nessa localidade. Devido à importância das correntes subinerciais, por serem responsáveis pelo transporte de substâncias dissolvidas ou em suspensão nas águas, tais como sedimentos, nutrientes e poluição, este trabalho tenta contribuir com um maior conhecimento desses campos de corrente, a partir da análise, no domínio do tempo e da frequência, de séries temporais de intensidade e direção das correntes e do vento local. Foram utilizados dados coletados no Projeto DEPROAS (Dinâmica do Ecossistema de Plataforma da Região Oeste do Atlântico Sul) a partir de correntógrafos e ADCP fundeados, numa radial em frente a Cabo Frio, sobre as isóbatas de 50, 100 e 200 m, bem como de uma bóia e de uma estação meteorológicas. Trabalhamos com as séries temporais do inverno de 2001 e do inverno e verão de 2003. A partir desse estudo foi possível verificar que a variabilidade subinercial domina o fluxo das correntes na região, principalmente na direção paralela à batimetria. Como no restante da PCSE, verificou-se um balanço geostrófico na direção normal à topografia, responsável por um fluxo paralelo às isóbatas, em especial na PCM e nas profundidades intermediárias afastadas das camadas limite. Foi observado que a corrente costeira, forçada por processos baroclínicos e pelo vento, típica da parte central da PCSE, atinge o extremo norte da plataforma continental, induzindo um fluxo mais frequente com sentido SE, nas camadas intermediária e de fundo, principalmente no inverno. Verificou-se também que os ventos locais têm baixa correlação com as correntes, exceto nos níveis superficiais, evidenciando a importância das forçantes remotas na dinâmica da região, somado à influência da atividade vortical ciclônica gerada na região pela Corrente do Brasil, com influência até a PCM. Evidências de eventos de ressurgência/subsidência apareceram ao longo de todos os períodos estudados, com ocorrência preferencial a W desta localidade. / This work was developed within the context of the continental shelf hydrodynamics, with the aim of studying the subtidal variability of the currents in the far north of the South Brazil Bight (SBB). The area of the study is located in the vicinity of Cabo Frio (RJ) and Arraial do Cabo (RJ) (approximately 23º S / 42º W). Despite being a well known and studied region, due to the coastal upwelling phenomenon that occurs in its vicinity, little is known about the subtidal variability in this location. Given the importance of the subtidal currents, that are responsible for the transport of substances dissolved or suspended in water, such as sediments, nutrients and pollution, this work tries to contribute to a better understanding of these current~ fields, by the analysis in the time and frequency domain, from time series of the currents and local wind intensity and direction. We used data collected in DEPROAS Project (Western South Atlantict Platform Ecosystem Dynamics) from current meters and an ADCP moored in front of Cabo Frio, on the isobaths of 50, 100 and 200 m, and from a buoy and a weather station. We worked with time series of 2001 winter and 2003 winter and summer. From this study it was found that the subtidal variability dominates the flow in the region, mainly in the parallel direction of the bathymetry. As in the rest of the SBB, there was a geostrophic balance in the normal direction of the topography, which accounts for a flow parallel to isobaths, particularly in the middle shelf and in intermediate depths of the remote boundary layer. It was observed that the coastal current forced by baroclinic processes and by the wind, typical of the central part of the SBB reaches the northern edge of the SBB, leading to a more frequent flow in the southeast direction, in the intermediate layers and the bottom, especially in the winter. It was also found that the local winds have low correlation with the currents, except on the superficial layers, indicating the importance of remote forcing in the dynamics of the region, coupled with the influence of cyclonic vortical activity in the region, generated by the Brazil Current, reaching the middle shelf. Upwelling and downwelling evidences were observed in all time series, with the preferential location occurring west of Cabo Frio.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido dentro do contexto da hidrodinâmica da plataforma continental, com o objetivo de estudar a variabilidade subinercial das correntes no extremo norte na Plataforma Continental Sudeste brasileira. A região de estudo está localizada nas proximidades de Cabo Frio (RJ) e Arraial do Cabo (RJ) (aproximadamente 23º S / 42º W). Apesar de ser uma região bastante conhecida e estudada, em função do fenômeno da ressurgência costeira que ocorre em suas proximidades, pouco se conhece sobre a circulação subinercial nessa localidade. Devido à importância das correntes subinerciais, por serem responsáveis pelo transporte de substâncias dissolvidas ou em suspensão nas águas, tais como sedimentos, nutrientes e poluição, este trabalho tenta contribuir com um maior conhecimento desses campos de corrente, a partir da análise, no domínio do tempo e da frequência, de séries temporais de intensidade e direção das correntes e do vento local. Foram utilizados dados coletados no Projeto DEPROAS (Dinâmica do Ecossistema de Plataforma da Região Oeste do Atlântico Sul) a partir de correntógrafos e ADCP fundeados, numa radial em frente a Cabo Frio, sobre as isóbatas de 50, 100 e 200 m, bem como de uma bóia e de uma estação meteorológicas. Trabalhamos com as séries temporais do inverno de 2001 e do inverno e verão de 2003. A partir desse estudo foi possível verificar que a variabilidade subinercial domina o fluxo das correntes na região, principalmente na direção paralela à batimetria. Como no restante da PCSE, verificou-se um balanço geostrófico na direção normal à topografia, responsável por um fluxo paralelo às isóbatas, em especial na PCM e nas profundidades intermediárias afastadas das camadas limite. Foi observado que a corrente costeira, forçada por processos baroclínicos e pelo vento, típica da parte central da PCSE, atinge o extremo norte da plataforma continental, induzindo um fluxo mais frequente com sentido SE, nas camadas intermediária e de fundo, principalmente no inverno. Verificou-se também que os ventos locais têm baixa correlação com as correntes, exceto nos níveis superficiais, evidenciando a importância das forçantes remotas na dinâmica da região, somado à influência da atividade vortical ciclônica gerada na região pela Corrente do Brasil, com influência até a PCM. Evidências de eventos de ressurgência/subsidência apareceram ao longo de todos os períodos estudados, com ocorrência preferencial a W desta localidade. / This work was developed within the context of the continental shelf hydrodynamics, with the aim of studying the subtidal variability of the currents in the far north of the South Brazil Bight (SBB). The area of the study is located in the vicinity of Cabo Frio (RJ) and Arraial do Cabo (RJ) (approximately 23º S / 42º W). Despite being a well known and studied region, due to the coastal upwelling phenomenon that occurs in its vicinity, little is known about the subtidal variability in this location. Given the importance of the subtidal currents, that are responsible for the transport of substances dissolved or suspended in water, such as sediments, nutrients and pollution, this work tries to contribute to a better understanding of these current~ fields, by the analysis in the time and frequency domain, from time series of the currents and local wind intensity and direction. We used data collected in DEPROAS Project (Western South Atlantict Platform Ecosystem Dynamics) from current meters and an ADCP moored in front of Cabo Frio, on the isobaths of 50, 100 and 200 m, and from a buoy and a weather station. We worked with time series of 2001 winter and 2003 winter and summer. From this study it was found that the subtidal variability dominates the flow in the region, mainly in the parallel direction of the bathymetry. As in the rest of the SBB, there was a geostrophic balance in the normal direction of the topography, which accounts for a flow parallel to isobaths, particularly in the middle shelf and in intermediate depths of the remote boundary layer. It was observed that the coastal current forced by baroclinic processes and by the wind, typical of the central part of the SBB reaches the northern edge of the SBB, leading to a more frequent flow in the southeast direction, in the intermediate layers and the bottom, especially in the winter. It was also found that the local winds have low correlation with the currents, except on the superficial layers, indicating the importance of remote forcing in the dynamics of the region, coupled with the influence of cyclonic vortical activity in the region, generated by the Brazil Current, reaching the middle shelf. Upwelling and downwelling evidences were observed in all time series, with the preferential location occurring west of Cabo Frio.

Ecosystem modelling allows for an understanding of the structure and functioning of ecosystems. During this study, the oligotrophic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Bight, a data-limited system on the east coast of South Africa, was modelled. A framework for modelling data-poor systems, incorporating the construction of multiple models, sensitivity analyses and comparative analyses was applied to the Bight using literature data. Models converged on general trends of ecosystem functioning showing 99% of flows originated from detritus, primarily imported from rivers. The largest source of riverine detritus is the Thukela River which flows into the central Bight. This area supports a shallow-water prawn trawl fishery which targets penaeid prawns. Fisheries time series‘ were incorporated into the model framework to study the effects of prawn trawling and the decrease in prawn recruitment, caused by estuarine nursery loss, on the central Bight ecosystem. Dynamic simulations suggest the biomass of biotic groups were more affected by prawn recruitment level than trawling effort level. To understand the importance of nutrients in more detail, nutrient content, biomass and stoichiometric ratios were documented for various pelagic and demersal functional groups, and compared between areas in this oligotrophic system. Results showed the central Bight had the highest carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus biomasses, due to riverine nutrient sources, and the southern Bight had the lowest. In addition, the demersal community had higher biomasses than the pelagic community for all nutrients. Nutrient dynamics and limitations within the Bight were explored through the construction and analysis of trophic flow networks of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus for the southern, central and northern Bight. Network analyses suggest nutrient cycling was lowest in the central Bight, and highest in the southern Bight. Cycling of nitrogen was highest in all areas due to the dominance of benthos, in terms of biomass, which was nitrogen-limited. Higher trophic levels were found to be phosphorus-limited. However many pelagic groups were co-limited by nitrogen and phosphorus, probably due to the oligotrophic nature of the bight. This suite of ecosystem models provides the first holistic view of the KZN Bight and an understanding of ecosystem functioning in the southern, central and northern Bight. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

The KwaZulu‒Natal Bight is formed from a narrow indentation in the SE coast of South Africa with the waters within considered to be oligotrophic. These waters therefore depend on both allochthonous sources of nutrients such as intermittent upwelling of deeper water and nutrients supplied by riverine inputs, as well as the autochthonous nutrients supplied by phytoplankton production, microbial fixation and recycling of nutrients by the microbial loop. Two African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme cruises were undertaken during 2010, during the wet summer, and dry winter months. During each cruise, the waters of the KZN‒B were sampled rapidly to provide spatial scales (synoptic) of bacterial abundance and biomass, as well as at four predetermined locations to determine temporal scales (focus) of bacterial abundance, biomass and productivity. During the synoptic section, samples were taken in surface waters, close to F‒max (the depth at which phytoplankton were at their most dense as determined by in situ fluorometry), below the F‒max (where depths exceeded 50 m), and near the bottom. These samples were fixed with formaldehyde, stained with DAPI and cells were visualised by epifluorescent microscopy. During the focus section, samples were taken in surface waters, close to F‒max and below F‒max and incubated with 3H‒Thymidine to determine bacterial productivity. Bacterioplankton dynamics (numbers, biomass and productivity) for both cruises, synoptic section, were higher within the photic zone and near riverine influenced waters, with summer showing higher dynamics than winter. Irrespective of season, bacterioplankton dynamics decreased with increasing distance from the coast as well as with increasing depth, potentially via bottom‒up control mechanisms. Results obtained from the focus section of both cruises showed a significant difference between seasons for the Thukela Mouth and Richards Bay North, while no difference at the Durban Eddy. These results from the focus section suggest that bacterioplankton temporal dynamics were more top‒down controlled, rather than environmentally influenced, resulting in fluctuating dynamics over time. Overall, it is proposed that the degree of inorganic nutrient supply to the phytoplankton, resulted in the formation of DOM for use by the heterotrophic bacteria, resulting in a bottom‒up control mechanism, where Chl‒a concentrations within the euphotic zone induces either top‒down or bottom‒up control mechanisms on the heterotrophic bacteria directly affecting their numbers, biomass and productivity. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2013.

Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) have been harvested along the east coast of the United States since the 1800s, however a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was only recently created for this species. To date, there have not been any studies that have attempted to identify or quantify bycatch in the horseshoe crab trawl fishery. A horseshoe crab trawl survey was started in 2001 to collect data on the relative abundance, distribution, and population demographics of horseshoe crabs along the Atlantic coast of the United States. In the present study, species composition data were collected at sites sampled by the horseshoe crab trawl survey in 2005 and 2006. Seventy-six different taxa were identified as potential bycatch in the horseshoe crab trawl fishery. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) was used to cluster sites and identify the spatial distribution of taxa. Sites strongly clustered into distinct groups, suggesting that species composition changes spatially and seasonally. Species composition shifted between northern and southern sites. Location and bottom water temperature explain most of the variation in species composition. These results provide a list of species that are susceptible to this specific trawl gear and describe their distribution during fall months throughout the study area. Identifying these species and describing their distribution is a first step to understanding the ecosystem-level effects of the horseshoe crab trawl fishery. / Master of Science

Este trabalho visa avaliar o efeito do movimento vertical da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos máximos subsuperficiais de clorofila (MSC) ao longo da termoclina devido a propagação de ondas internas na porção externa da Plataforma Continental Sudeste do Brasil. A região está sujeita as intrusões da Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e a coluna de água permanece estratificada entre a primavera e o verão. Altas concentrações de nutrientes na camada de fundo dominada pela ACAS sustentam a produção nova da comunidade fitoplanctônica nos MSC da base da zona eufótica. Dados hidrográficos e biogeoquímicos tais como temperatura, salinidade, nutrientes, clorofila-a e taxas de fotossíntese foram monitorados durante uma série temporal diurna de 48 horas sobre a isóbata de 100 metros ao largo da Ilha de São Sebastião (SP) em intervalos de 1 hora. Entretanto, apesar da disponibilidade de nutrientes, a produção fotossintética pode ser limitada pela baixa intensidade luminosa nesses níveis. O movimento vertical induzido por ondas eleva o MSC, colocando-o em uma profundidade mais iluminada e podendo aumentar significativamente a produtividade local. Ao contrário do que observado na literatura, a passagem de ondas internas não aumentou a concentração de nutrientes na camada de mistura. Os resultados revelaram que as ondas internas podem aumentar em até 24% a fixação de carbono e, portanto, sugerem que as estimativas de produção primária obtidas até agora na zona eufótica do Embaiamento de Santos devem ser reavaliadas. / The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of the vertical displacement of phytoplankton community in subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) on the primary production due to passage of internal waves at outer portion of Brazilian southwestern continental shelf. The study area is influenced by intrusions of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) thus allowing the water column to remain stably stratified during spring and summer seasons. The new primary production in the SCM at the base of the euphotic zone is sustained by high nutrient concentration in subthermocline portion of the water column, which is directly influenced by SACW intrusions. Hydrographic and biochemical data such as water temperature, salinity, nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentration, as well as photosynthesis rates, were monitored for roughly 48 hours at the fixed location over the 100 m isobath off Sao Sebastiao Island (Southeastern Brazil Bight). In spite of nutrient availability, photosynthetic production may be limited by low light conditions in subthermocline depths. Vertical displacements driven by internal wave propagation may increase light availability in the SCM, therefore having the potential to raise local productivity. Despite previous reports, no significant nutrient concentration increase in the mixed layer was observed during internal wave propagation. The results point to an increase in up to 30% of carbon fixation due to internal waves\' passage and therefore suggest that previous estimates of primary productivity in the Santos Bight should be reviewed.