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The Persian Gulf is a shallow, semi-enclosed marginal sea where the Persian Gulf Water (PGW), one of the most saline water masses in the world, is formed due to the arid climate. The PGW flushes out of the Persian Gulf as a deep outflow and induces a surface inflow of the Indian Ocean Surface Water (IOSW), driving an inverse-estuarine type water exchange through the Strait of Hormuz. In this dissertation, the circulation and water mass transformation processes in the Persian Gulf and the water exchange with the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Hormuz, in response to the atmospheric forcing, are studied using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). The model is driven by surface wind stress, heat and fresh water fluxes derived from two sources: the COADS (Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set) monthly climatology and high frequency (2-hourly) MM5 (The Fifth-Generation NCAR/Penn State Mesoscale Model) output. This study is motivated by the time series measurements in the Strait during December 1996 to March 1998 by Johns et al. (2003), which also serve as a major benchmark for evaluating the model results. The simulations with climatological forcing show that the IOSW propagates in two branches into the Gulf, one along the Iranian coast toward the northern gulf and the other one onto the southern banks driven by the Ekman drift by the prevailing northwesterly winds. These two branches of inflow form two cyclonic gyres in the northern and in the southern gulf respectively. Cold, saline deep waters are formed both in the northern gulf and in the southern gulf during the wintertime cooling period and their exports contribute seasonally to the outflow in the strait. After formation in winter, the dense water in the shallow southwestern gulf spills off into the strait and causes high-salinity pulses in the outflow in the strait, a phenomenon also present in the observations. The export of dense waters from the northern gulf persists throughout the year, with the largest cold water export in summer. The intrusion of the IOSW in the model extends much farther into the Gulf in summer than in winter, which is in agreement with observations. By analyzing the salt balance in the basin and conducting sensitivity experiments, we show that it is the balance between the advection of IOSW and vertical upward flux induced by vertical mixing that mainly controls the seasonal variation of the surface salinity. The surface salinity in winter is increased by upward mixing from saltier subsurface waters, which is caused by the strong vertical mixing condition maintained by the surface heat loss. Surface wind stress, which opposes the inflow and is stronger in winter than in summer, plays a secondary role in modulating the seasonal intrusion of the IOSW. The MM5 high frequency forcing, capable of resolving synoptic weather events, leads to increased heat loss in winter, enhanced vertical mixing and higher annual mean evaporation rate. In the simulation with the high frequency forcing, the waters in the gulf are generally about 3 degree C colder and 1 psu fresher than with COADS forcing, and agree better with observations. The high-frequency forcing has little effect on the export of the dense waters from the northern gulf but delays the spillage of the waters from the southern gulf to April. A notable synoptic feature of the simulations is the annual appearance of eddies along the intruding salinity front. The typical sizes of the fully developed eddies in summer are about 100 km, about 3 times of the local Rossby deformation radius, consistent with a baroclinic instability process. The existence of these eddies is confirmed in satellite images of surface temperature in the Gulf.

Cyclonic oceanic vortices (eddies) ranging from ~10 to 150km in diameter that travel along the Florida Keys are investigated. This study employs hydrodynamic parameters from simulations in a high-resolution (~900m horizontally), three-dimensional (26 vertical levels) HYbrid Coordinates Ocean Model regional application to study coastal to offshore interactions along the Florida Keys. These parameters are compared qualitatively to observations from Chlorophyll-a Satellite (SEAWiFs) and HF Radar (WERA). Further, eddy characteristics along the Florida Keys are determined using the Okubo-Weiss parameter combined with Sea-Surface Height fields for the period 2004- 2008. Additionally, their temporal scales are assessed using spectral time-series analysis via Welch?s Fast Fourier Transform and Wavelet Transforms. Some processes that influence eddy evolution along the Florida Keys are presented in the form of case studies. And finally, the relative contribution of mesoscale and submesoscale eddies to the upwelling along the Florida Keys is assessed, supporting the argument that these features contribute to produce water exchanges between the offshore flow and the coastal areas.

A combination of in situ sampling and real-time ocean observations was used to investigate the processes responsible for the formation and the areal extent of Texas coastal hypoxia from 2002 to 2011. In situ sampling, real-time mooring and buoy observations, and multivariate statistical modeling were used to investigate the physical processes driving hypoxia formation. Geostatistical interpolation (ordinary kriging) models were tested to compare the differences in annual hypoxia area on the Texas shelf. Results from these two sections were integrated into recommendations for improving federal hypoxia monitoring and mitigation strategies in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Winds, currents, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen records revealed the annual, seasonal, and daily variability of hypoxia formation on the Texas coast from 2009 to 2011. Hypoxic events occurred from late May to late October lasting from hours to weeks. Hypoxia formation was either the result of salinity stratification, associated with the freshening of surface waters by the advection of Mississippi-Atchafalaya River freshwater westward or the wind- and current-driven upcoast or downcoast flow of Brazos River discharge. Records from 2010 and 2011 showed the variability and frequency of stratification development differs on the north and south Texas shelf. Multivariate linear model results showed contributing factors on the north Texas shelf vary annually and that primary factors for hypoxia development are near-surface current speeds and salinity-driven stratification. Interpolation models resulted in three size categories for hypoxia area: small (100 – 1,000 km^2), moderate (1,001 – 3,000 km^2), and large (3,001+ km^2). Moderate years include 2002, 2004, and 2007 and a large year was 2008. There was no increase in hypoxic area from years 2002 to 2011, but years 2007 and 2008 resulted in a hypoxic area over 5,000 km^2, which is the federally mandated hypoxia reduction target for the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Geostatistical interpolators represent and predict the structure and spatial extent of the hypoxic area on the Texas shelf by accounting for the anisotropy of physical processes on the Texas shelf. Geostatistical interpolation models are preferred to deterministic models for developing and improving federal hypoxia monitoring and mitigation strategies on the northwestern Gulf of Mexico shelf.

Motivation behind the spring whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aggregation in Al-Lith, on the Saudi Arabian coast of the South Central Red Sea, is uncertain. A plausible hypothesis is that whale sharks gather to feed on high prey density, leading to questions about the cause of the prey density. A bottom-up process fueled by nutrient input or accumulation from physical advection could create a peak in prey biomass. Wastewater discharged from an aquaculture facility could affect productivity or provide a chemosensory cue for whale sharks. Yet, basic physico-biological oceanography of this region is unresolved. Monthly profiles, long-term moorings, and spatial surveys were used to describe the temporal variability of potential prey biomass and water masses in this region for the first time. Plankton abundance of individuals larger than ~0.7 cm did not peak during whale shark season. Rather, a decrease coinciding the trailing end of whale shark detections was observed. Sites 180 m apart had differences in acoustic backscatter, suggesting small-scale biomass patchiness, supporting the small-scale variability in whale shark habitat selectivity. Red Sea Deep Water, a nutrient-rich water mass formed in the northern Red Sea, appeared in July at the same time the Tokar wind jet from the Sudanese mountain gap is the highest. Gulf of Aden Water, a nutrient-rich water mass from the Indian Ocean, arrived as episodes from May to September, contrary to previous expectations that the water arrives continuously. It is unlikely that these natural nutrient sources are directly responsible for the high prey density attracting the whale sharks. The aquaculture plume, observed at the aggregation site, had a distinct seasonality from the ambient waters. The plume’s highest salinity (>48) approached the extreme limits of coral tolerances. Nutrient concentrations (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silica), suspended particulate matter, phytoplankton biomass, bacteria and cyanobacteria cell counts, total nitrogen, and relative abundance of genera associated with opportunistic pathogenic species (e.g., Arcobacter) were significantly higher in the plume. This study was the first to estimate the nutrient flux and spatial variability of the aquaculture plume.

Recruitment, the addition of new individuals to a population, must be understood to make predictions about population growth of marine invertebrates. Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) represent a former important commercial fishery in California, and until recently, supported a major recreational fishery. However, there have been statewide declines since the 1960s due to overfishing, disease, and climatic factors. Thus, understanding population dynamics to inform management and population restoration is critical. Recruitment dynamics of red abalone are poorly understood, with no prior knowledge of seasonal trends. To address this knowledge gap, I assessed monthly (July 2016-June 2017) and annual (2012-2016) settlement rates of red abalone in the Monterey Bay, which has low density abalone populations due to sea otter predation. I evaluated associations between abalone recruitment and oceanographic factors (temperature, wave forces, and upwelling index) and food availability (kelp density) to understand potential predictors of recruitment. Abalone recruitment occurred year round, with generally higher recruitment in late summer to early fall (July-October) and peaks in August and October. This is the first demonstration of year-round abalone recruitment in the field. On a monthly basis, there were no statistically significant relationships between recruitment and oceanographic factors or food availability. Annual abalone recruitment was consistent in all years, with the exception of 2015 when recruitment majorly decreased during the second year of the North Pacific marine heatwave (i.e., warm blob and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events). The failure of recruitment during only the second year of warm temperature suggests that prolonged extreme temperatures lead to reproductive failure. The consistent annual recruitment in the Monterey Bay contrasts with sporadic recruitment observed in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in northern California. This finding was unexpected because red abalone in northern California were twice as dense as those in Monterey Bay at the time of the study. Possible hypotheses behind the observed consistent recruitment in Monterey Bay despite low densities include that: sheltered embayments retain larvae and promote recruitment, predation by sea otters aggregates abalone in crevices and promotes fertilization success, and the perennially present Macrocystis pyrifera kelp forests better support abalone growth and fecundity than northern California forests dominated by annual Nereocystis leutkeana.

A Plataforma Continental Sul Brasileira (PCSB) é considerada uma importante região do litoral do Brasil, suas massas d’água e os processos dinâmicos apresentam um comportamento sazonal que imprime fortes efeitos no ecossistema costeiro. Com objetivo de caracterizar a Frente Subtropical de Plataforma (FSTP) e seu impacto na atmosfera, o presente trabalho utilizou o modelo acoplado oceano-atmosfera COAWST (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport) para estudar, na região da PCSB, a distribuição das massas d’água e a variabilidade oceânica durante o ano de 2012. Assim como, o acoplamento oceano-atmosfera durante 10 dias do mês de junho de 2012, coincidentes com a realização do cruzeiro oceanográfico ACEx/SIMTECO. Os resultados de ambos os períodos de estudo foram comparados com observações históricas, com dados coletados in situ pelo cruzeiro ACEx/SIMTECO e com dados de satélite. Os resultados indicam que essa componente foi capaz de reproduzir as principais características termohalinas e a sazonalidade das águas que dominam a PCSB. A mistura entre as águas de plataforma subtropicais e subantárticas que ocorre na FSTP, apresentou uma clara mudança sazonal em seu volume. Como consequência da mistura e da oscilação sazonal de posição da FSTP, a estabilidade da coluna d´água dentro da PCSB também muda sazonalmente. Os valores de temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM) e altura da superfície do mar mostraram valores sazonais de REQM inferiores a 2°C e um skill médio superior a 0,75. Valores de velocidade sobre a plataforma para a Corrente Costeira do Brasil (CCB) chegam 0,6 (m.s-1), enquanto o transporte para a Corrente do Brasil (CB) e CCB foram de -7 a -44 Sv e -0,3 a 0,3 Sv, respectivamente. Os mapas sazonais de energia cinética média e energia cinética turbulenta representam o comportamento já conhecido da CB e ressaltam a importância do fluxo costeiro médio ao largo da costa da Argentina ao longo do ano. A comparação dos dados do modelo atmosférico, rodado no modo acoplado do COAWST, com dados observacionais indicam um satisfatório desempenho do modelo em representar as variáveis temperatura potencial, umidade relativa e específica, assim como os campos de vento na superfície do mar. O módulo atmosférico do COAWST foi também capaz de representar as variações da camada limite atmosférica marinha (CLAM), mesmo em condições sinóticas pré e pós-frontais como as observadas durante a realização do cruzeiro ACEx/SIMTECO. O presente trabalho apresenta, pela primeira vez para a região de estudo, resultados que demonstram a robustez do modelo regional COAWST em descrever o comportamento sinótico da atmosfera frente aos gradientes de TSM na região da PCSB. E oferece novos subsídios para o estudo do comportamento do sistema acoplado oceano-atmosfera nesta importante região da costa brasileira. / The South Brazilian Continental Shelf (SBCS) is considered an important region of Brazilian coast, their water masses and the dynamic processes present a seasonal behavior that has strong effects on the coastal ecosystem. In order to characterize the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) and its impact on the atmosphere, this work used the ocean-atmosphere coupled model COAWST (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport) to study, in the SBCS region, the distribution of water massas and ocean variability during the year 2012. As well, the ocean-atmosphere coupling during 10 days of June 2012, coinciding with the ACEx/SIMTECO oceanographic cruise. The results of both study periods were compared with historical observations, data collected in situ by the ACEx/SIMTECO cruise and satellite data. The results indicate that this component was capable of reproducing the main thermohaline characteristics and the seasonality of dominant waters of the SBCS. The mixture between subtropical and subantarctic shelf waters that occurs in the STSF, showed a clear seasonal change in its volume. As consequence of mixing and seasonal STSF oscillation, the stability of the water column within the SBCS also changes seasonally. The values of sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height showed seasonal RMSE values below 2 °C and an average skill greater than 0,75. Velocity values on the shef for Brazilian Coastal Current (BCC) reach 0,6 (ms-1), while transport to Brazil Current (BC) and BCC were -7 to -44 Sv and -0, 3 to 0.3 Sv, respectively. The seasonal maps of medium kinetic energy and turbulent kinetic energy represent the behavior of the BC and highlight the importance of the average coastal flow off the coast of Argentina during the year. The comparison of data from the atmospheric model, run in coupled mode of COAWST, with observational data indicates a satisfactory performance of the model in representing the variables potential temperature, relative and specific humidity, as well as the wind fields at the surface of the sea. The atmospheric module of COAWST was able to represent the variations of marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), even in pré and post-frontal synoptic conditions such as those observed during the ACEx/SIMTECO cruise. The present work presents, for the first time in this region, results that demonstrate the robustness of the COAWST regional model in describing the synoptic behavior of the atmosphere in front of SST gradients in the SBCS region. And offers new subsidies for the study of the behavior of the ocean-atmosphere coupled system in this important region of the Brazilian coast.

Patterns of variability and the dynamics of the ocean circulation on the West Florida Shelf (WFS) are investigated using multi-year, shelf-wide oceanographic observations from moored Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) arrays,hydrographic cruises, High-Frequency (HF) radars, satellites, and coastal tide gauges.Novel neural network techniques, Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Growing Hierarchical Self-Organizing Maps (GHSOM), are introduced as feature extraction methods in physical oceanography. The SOM is demystified and demonstrated to be a useful feature extraction method in a series of performance evaluations using artificial data sets comprising known patterns. It is then applied to velocity time series from moored ADCP arrays and to a joint HF-radar and ADCP data set, respectively, to extract patterns of ocean current variability, and it is shown to be a useful technique for extracting dynamically consistent ocean current patterns. The extracted characteristic patte rns of upwelling/downwelling variability are coherent with the local winds on the synoptic weather time scale, and coherent with both the local winds and thecomplementary Sea Surface Temperature (SST) patterns on the seasonal time scale. Thecurrents are predominantly southeastward during fall-winter and northwestward during summer. The GHSOM is used to describe the SST seasonal variation. As feature extraction methods, both the SOM and the GHSOM have advantages over the conventional Empirical Orthogonal Function method.The circulation dynamics are examined, first through depth-averaged momentum balances at selected locations and then via sea surface height (SSH) estimates across the inner shelf. Dominant dynamics of the shelf circulation are diagnosed and a method is discussed for estimating along-shelf currents from coastal sea level and wind data. Nontidal coastal sea level fluctuations are related to both the offshore SSH and the dynamical responses of the inner shelf to wind and bu oyancy forcing. The across-shelf distribution of the SSH is estimated from the velocity, hydrography, wind, and coastal sea level data.Subtracting the variability that may be accounted for by inner shelf dynamical responses yields a residual at the 50 m isobath that compares well with satellite altimetry data. This suggests the possibility of calibrating satellite SSH data on the continental shelf.

A Plataforma Continental Sul Brasileira (PCSB) é considerada uma importante região do litoral do Brasil, suas massas d’água e os processos dinâmicos apresentam um comportamento sazonal que imprime fortes efeitos no ecossistema costeiro. Com objetivo de caracterizar a Frente Subtropical de Plataforma (FSTP) e seu impacto na atmosfera, o presente trabalho utilizou o modelo acoplado oceano-atmosfera COAWST (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport) para estudar, na região da PCSB, a distribuição das massas d’água e a variabilidade oceânica durante o ano de 2012. Assim como, o acoplamento oceano-atmosfera durante 10 dias do mês de junho de 2012, coincidentes com a realização do cruzeiro oceanográfico ACEx/SIMTECO. Os resultados de ambos os períodos de estudo foram comparados com observações históricas, com dados coletados in situ pelo cruzeiro ACEx/SIMTECO e com dados de satélite. Os resultados indicam que essa componente foi capaz de reproduzir as principais características termohalinas e a sazonalidade das águas que dominam a PCSB. A mistura entre as águas de plataforma subtropicais e subantárticas que ocorre na FSTP, apresentou uma clara mudança sazonal em seu volume. Como consequência da mistura e da oscilação sazonal de posição da FSTP, a estabilidade da coluna d´água dentro da PCSB também muda sazonalmente. Os valores de temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM) e altura da superfície do mar mostraram valores sazonais de REQM inferiores a 2°C e um skill médio superior a 0,75. Valores de velocidade sobre a plataforma para a Corrente Costeira do Brasil (CCB) chegam 0,6 (m.s-1), enquanto o transporte para a Corrente do Brasil (CB) e CCB foram de -7 a -44 Sv e -0,3 a 0,3 Sv, respectivamente. Os mapas sazonais de energia cinética média e energia cinética turbulenta representam o comportamento já conhecido da CB e ressaltam a importância do fluxo costeiro médio ao largo da costa da Argentina ao longo do ano. A comparação dos dados do modelo atmosférico, rodado no modo acoplado do COAWST, com dados observacionais indicam um satisfatório desempenho do modelo em representar as variáveis temperatura potencial, umidade relativa e específica, assim como os campos de vento na superfície do mar. O módulo atmosférico do COAWST foi também capaz de representar as variações da camada limite atmosférica marinha (CLAM), mesmo em condições sinóticas pré e pós-frontais como as observadas durante a realização do cruzeiro ACEx/SIMTECO. O presente trabalho apresenta, pela primeira vez para a região de estudo, resultados que demonstram a robustez do modelo regional COAWST em descrever o comportamento sinótico da atmosfera frente aos gradientes de TSM na região da PCSB. E oferece novos subsídios para o estudo do comportamento do sistema acoplado oceano-atmosfera nesta importante região da costa brasileira. / The South Brazilian Continental Shelf (SBCS) is considered an important region of Brazilian coast, their water masses and the dynamic processes present a seasonal behavior that has strong effects on the coastal ecosystem. In order to characterize the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) and its impact on the atmosphere, this work used the ocean-atmosphere coupled model COAWST (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport) to study, in the SBCS region, the distribution of water massas and ocean variability during the year 2012. As well, the ocean-atmosphere coupling during 10 days of June 2012, coinciding with the ACEx/SIMTECO oceanographic cruise. The results of both study periods were compared with historical observations, data collected in situ by the ACEx/SIMTECO cruise and satellite data. The results indicate that this component was capable of reproducing the main thermohaline characteristics and the seasonality of dominant waters of the SBCS. The mixture between subtropical and subantarctic shelf waters that occurs in the STSF, showed a clear seasonal change in its volume. As consequence of mixing and seasonal STSF oscillation, the stability of the water column within the SBCS also changes seasonally. The values of sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height showed seasonal RMSE values below 2 °C and an average skill greater than 0,75. Velocity values on the shef for Brazilian Coastal Current (BCC) reach 0,6 (ms-1), while transport to Brazil Current (BC) and BCC were -7 to -44 Sv and -0, 3 to 0.3 Sv, respectively. The seasonal maps of medium kinetic energy and turbulent kinetic energy represent the behavior of the BC and highlight the importance of the average coastal flow off the coast of Argentina during the year. The comparison of data from the atmospheric model, run in coupled mode of COAWST, with observational data indicates a satisfactory performance of the model in representing the variables potential temperature, relative and specific humidity, as well as the wind fields at the surface of the sea. The atmospheric module of COAWST was able to represent the variations of marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), even in pré and post-frontal synoptic conditions such as those observed during the ACEx/SIMTECO cruise. The present work presents, for the first time in this region, results that demonstrate the robustness of the COAWST regional model in describing the synoptic behavior of the atmosphere in front of SST gradients in the SBCS region. And offers new subsidies for the study of the behavior of the ocean-atmosphere coupled system in this important region of the Brazilian coast.

A Plataforma Continental Sul Brasileira (PCSB) é considerada uma importante região do litoral do Brasil, suas massas d’água e os processos dinâmicos apresentam um comportamento sazonal que imprime fortes efeitos no ecossistema costeiro. Com objetivo de caracterizar a Frente Subtropical de Plataforma (FSTP) e seu impacto na atmosfera, o presente trabalho utilizou o modelo acoplado oceano-atmosfera COAWST (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport) para estudar, na região da PCSB, a distribuição das massas d’água e a variabilidade oceânica durante o ano de 2012. Assim como, o acoplamento oceano-atmosfera durante 10 dias do mês de junho de 2012, coincidentes com a realização do cruzeiro oceanográfico ACEx/SIMTECO. Os resultados de ambos os períodos de estudo foram comparados com observações históricas, com dados coletados in situ pelo cruzeiro ACEx/SIMTECO e com dados de satélite. Os resultados indicam que essa componente foi capaz de reproduzir as principais características termohalinas e a sazonalidade das águas que dominam a PCSB. A mistura entre as águas de plataforma subtropicais e subantárticas que ocorre na FSTP, apresentou uma clara mudança sazonal em seu volume. Como consequência da mistura e da oscilação sazonal de posição da FSTP, a estabilidade da coluna d´água dentro da PCSB também muda sazonalmente. Os valores de temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM) e altura da superfície do mar mostraram valores sazonais de REQM inferiores a 2°C e um skill médio superior a 0,75. Valores de velocidade sobre a plataforma para a Corrente Costeira do Brasil (CCB) chegam 0,6 (m.s-1), enquanto o transporte para a Corrente do Brasil (CB) e CCB foram de -7 a -44 Sv e -0,3 a 0,3 Sv, respectivamente. Os mapas sazonais de energia cinética média e energia cinética turbulenta representam o comportamento já conhecido da CB e ressaltam a importância do fluxo costeiro médio ao largo da costa da Argentina ao longo do ano. A comparação dos dados do modelo atmosférico, rodado no modo acoplado do COAWST, com dados observacionais indicam um satisfatório desempenho do modelo em representar as variáveis temperatura potencial, umidade relativa e específica, assim como os campos de vento na superfície do mar. O módulo atmosférico do COAWST foi também capaz de representar as variações da camada limite atmosférica marinha (CLAM), mesmo em condições sinóticas pré e pós-frontais como as observadas durante a realização do cruzeiro ACEx/SIMTECO. O presente trabalho apresenta, pela primeira vez para a região de estudo, resultados que demonstram a robustez do modelo regional COAWST em descrever o comportamento sinótico da atmosfera frente aos gradientes de TSM na região da PCSB. E oferece novos subsídios para o estudo do comportamento do sistema acoplado oceano-atmosfera nesta importante região da costa brasileira. / The South Brazilian Continental Shelf (SBCS) is considered an important region of Brazilian coast, their water masses and the dynamic processes present a seasonal behavior that has strong effects on the coastal ecosystem. In order to characterize the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) and its impact on the atmosphere, this work used the ocean-atmosphere coupled model COAWST (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport) to study, in the SBCS region, the distribution of water massas and ocean variability during the year 2012. As well, the ocean-atmosphere coupling during 10 days of June 2012, coinciding with the ACEx/SIMTECO oceanographic cruise. The results of both study periods were compared with historical observations, data collected in situ by the ACEx/SIMTECO cruise and satellite data. The results indicate that this component was capable of reproducing the main thermohaline characteristics and the seasonality of dominant waters of the SBCS. The mixture between subtropical and subantarctic shelf waters that occurs in the STSF, showed a clear seasonal change in its volume. As consequence of mixing and seasonal STSF oscillation, the stability of the water column within the SBCS also changes seasonally. The values of sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height showed seasonal RMSE values below 2 °C and an average skill greater than 0,75. Velocity values on the shef for Brazilian Coastal Current (BCC) reach 0,6 (ms-1), while transport to Brazil Current (BC) and BCC were -7 to -44 Sv and -0, 3 to 0.3 Sv, respectively. The seasonal maps of medium kinetic energy and turbulent kinetic energy represent the behavior of the BC and highlight the importance of the average coastal flow off the coast of Argentina during the year. The comparison of data from the atmospheric model, run in coupled mode of COAWST, with observational data indicates a satisfactory performance of the model in representing the variables potential temperature, relative and specific humidity, as well as the wind fields at the surface of the sea. The atmospheric module of COAWST was able to represent the variations of marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), even in pré and post-frontal synoptic conditions such as those observed during the ACEx/SIMTECO cruise. The present work presents, for the first time in this region, results that demonstrate the robustness of the COAWST regional model in describing the synoptic behavior of the atmosphere in front of SST gradients in the SBCS region. And offers new subsidies for the study of the behavior of the ocean-atmosphere coupled system in this important region of the Brazilian coast.