O sistema de correntes de contorno oeste que flui ao largo da costa leste brasileira entre 15°S e 22°S, é composto pela Corrente do Brasil (CB) fluindo para sul, a Sub-Corrente Norte do Brasil (SNB) fluindo para norte e a Corrente de Contorno Oeste Profunda (CCP) também fluindo para sul. Vigorosos meandros e vórtices são observados à jusante dos Bancos de Abrolhos (BA) e Royal Charlotte (BRC) e da Cadeia Vitória-Trindade. O objetivo central desta dissertação é o estudo da estabilidade deste sistema de correntes, aqui denomidado Sistema CB-SNB-CCP, utilizando o modelo oceânico da Universidade de Princeton (POM) em um cenário idealizado. Buscamos responder o quão instável é este sistema e quais seriam as características das ondas instáveis geradas a fim de contribuir para o conhecimento acerca da rica dinâmica de meso-escala observada nesta região. Objetivamos também, elucidar o papel dos BA e BRC nesta dinâmica. Embasados na alta baroclinicidade do sistema de correntes de contorno ao largo do sudeste brasileiro, optamos por representar o escoamento CB-SNB-CCP através de um modelo paramétrico do campo de massa, calibrado com os dados hidrográficos oriundos dos Cruzeiros Abrolhos [Silveira et al., 2006]. Mantendo o caráter idealizado do estudo, também empregamos topografia de fundo analítica, onde representamos o talude da região por uma função tangente hiporbólica. O BA e o BRC foram aproximados através de funções gaussianas devidademente ajustadas aos contornos da isóbata de 80 m extraídas do conjunto ETOPO 2. Para identificar os mecanismos de crescimento das possíveis ondas instáveis, calculou-se o balanço de energia das simulações realizadas de acordo com o método de [Xue & Bane, 1997]. Os resultados de três experimentos numéricos realizados sugerem que o sistema CB-SNB-CCP é instável. Ciclones quase-estacionários do lado costeiro da CB surgem como o principal modo de variabilidade desta corrente. De acordo com a análise do balanço energético, o crescimento dessas feições resulta primariamente de instabilidade baroclínica do escoamento. A escala horizontal típica das ondas e vórtices instáveis modelados é dada pelo raio de deformação interno, como esperado pela teoria de instabilidade baroclínica de escoamentos realisticamente estratificados. Em particular, os resultados do experimento com o BA e o BRC idealizados comprovam que estes funcionam como gatilhos para o desenvolvimento de ondas instáveis, favorecendo amplamente o crescimento das estruturas verticais. Os trens de onda instáveis quase-estacionários aqui obtidos sugerem que provavelmente o meandramento da CB observado em latitudes que se estendem até 28°S pode ser parte de um único sistema que se origina na região dos BA e BRC. / The western boundary currents system that flows off the eastern brazilian coast between 15°S e 22°S is composed by the southward-flowing Brazil Current (BC), the northward-flowing North Brazil Under Current (NBUC) and the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) that flows south. Vigorous meanders and eddies are observed downstream of the Abrolhos (AB) and Royal Charlotte Banks (RCB) and the Vitória-Trindade Ridge. The main goal of this dissertation is to study the stability of this currents system, hereby named BC-NBUC-DWBC system, using the Princeton University Ocean Model (POM) in an idealized scenerio. We seek to answer how unstable is this system and what are the characteristics of the unstable waves in order to contribute to the understanding of the rich mesoescale dynamics observed in this region. We also aim to elucidate the role of the AB and of the RCB on this dynamics. Based on the high degree of baroclinicity of the western boundary currents system off the southeastern brazilian coast, we opted to represent the BC-NBUC-DWBC system through a parametric model of the mass field, calibrated with hydrographic data from the Abrolhos Cruises [Silveira et al., 2006]. Maintaining the idealized character of the study, we have also employed an analytical bottom topography, in which the region\'s continental slope is approximated by hyperbolic tangent function. The AB and RCB were approximated by gaussian functions properly adjusted to the 80 m isobath extracted from the ETOPO 2 database. To identify the growth mecanism of the unstable waves, the energy budget of the simulations was calculated according to [Xue & Bane, 1997]. The results from the three experiments conducted here suggest that the BC-NBUC-DWBC system is indeed unstable. Quasi-stationary cyclones in the coastal side of BC arise as the main mode of variability of this current. According to the energy budget analisys, the growth of these features results primarily from baroclinic instability of BC-NBUC-DWBC flow. The typical horizontal scale of the modeled unstable waves and eddies is given by the internal radius of deformation, as expected by baroclinic instability theory of realistically stratified flows. The quasi-stationary unstable wave trains modeled in the present study also suggest that the meandering of the BC observed down to 28°S are probably part of a single system that originates at the AB and RCB region.

Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para o conhecimento da estrutura tridimensional de propriedades hidrográficas e de correntes na Baía de Guanabara (RJ, Brasil). Para atingir esse objetivo foi feita a análise de um conjunto de medições quase-sinóticas de propriedades hidrográficas e de velocidade em experimentos realizados na escala de tempo sazonal e de modulação da maré (quinzenal e semidiurna). Quatro estações fixas foram distribuídas na baía, no inverno e no verão austral (julho de 2000 e fevereiro de 2001); três seções latitudinais e uma longitudinal, e adicionalmente uma estação fixa, foram realizadas na baía em julho de 2003 e fevereiro de 2004. Os perfilamentos hidrográficos e de correntes foram feitos com equipamentos Condutividade-Temperatura-Pressão-Correntógrafo Acústico e um Perfilador Acústico Doppler. Em julho de 2000 os extremos de correntes de enchente e vazante, durante modulação quinzenal da maré, variaram de 0,70 m s-1 a -0,50 m s-1 e 0,80 m s-1 a -0,60 m s-1, na estação fixa localizada na entrada da baía. A salinidade (temperatura) apresentou distribuições verticais fracamente estratificadas e seus valores extremos foram modulados pelas correntes, durante o ciclo de maré de enchente e vazante, foram: 34,80 (21,50oC) e 35,8 (20,5 oC); a baía foi classificada como tipo 2a (parcial e fracamente estratificada), com pequena influência da modulação da maré, predominando a difusão da maré para o transporte de sal para o interior da baía. Em fevereiro de 2001, os máximos das intensidades de enchente e vazante variaram de 0,25 m s-1 a -0,50 m s-1 e 1,00 m s-1 a -0.70 m s-1, para as condições de quadratura e sizígia, respectivamente, e as intensidades das correntes secundárias foram pequenas (?u ?< 0,30 m s-1). Devido ao aquecimento sazonal e ao aumento da descarga fluvial, a estratificação vertical aumentou e as temperaturas e salinidades variaram de 20,0oC a 27,0oC e 33,0 a 35,5; a análise de massas de água indicou sinais da intrusão da Água Central do Atlântico Sul na baía. Devido à modulação da maré a classificação variou dos tipos 2b ao tipo 2a (parcialmente misturados com alta e fraca estratificação vertical, respectivamente) e no primeiro tipo, a difusão da maré e o efeito baroclínico foram responsáveis pelo transporte de sal para o interior da baía. xiii Em julho de 2003 e fevereiro de 2004, os componentes de velocidade longitudinal e transversal (secundário), o transporte de volume e sal através das seções latitudinais foram analisados para as condições de maré de sizígia e quadratura e na enchente e vazante. Nesses experimentos, o componente longitudinal da corrente nas seções transversais apresentou cisalhamentos verticais e laterais. As correntes mais intensas foram observadas na maré de sizígia, atingindo valores de até 0,80 m s-1 e -0,70 m s-1 para as correntes de enchente e vazante na entrada da baía. Os componentes transversais foram em geral menos intensos (?u ?< 0,40 m s-1), mas ocasionalmente valores maiores foram observados, provavelmente devido a efeitos topográficos. A variação do transporte de volume durante o ciclo de maré mostrou-se assimétrico, indicando a saída de água da baía, com defasagem de aproximadamente uma hora em relação à maré; o transporte de volume resultante apresentou os seguintes valores: -(4.15±1.85)x103 m3 s-1 a -(7.31±2.16)x103 m3 s-1, e -(1.37±2.08)x103 a -(0.23±1.59)x103 m3 s-1 para julho e fevereiro, respectivamente; esses resultados indicam que em fevereiro a renovação da água da baía foi mais eficiente. Levando-se em conta valores climatológicos da descarga fluvial na baía os valores da razão de fluxo (<0,05) indicaram que a maré é a principal forçante da dinâmica da baía. Tal como em fevereiro de 2001, a análise do diagrama T-S indicou que a ACAS foi um componente importante para a formação da massa de água nessa época do ano, penetrando na baía até cerca de 15 km. Os componentes do transporte advectivo de sal, calculados para a seção localizada na boca da BG e durante a maré de sizígia, tiveram ordem de grandeza muito próxima entre si (?2,6x105 kg s-1). Os resultados indicaram que o cisalhamento lateral de correntes é de importância fundamental para o estudo de processos de transporte na Baía de Guanabara. / This research leads to a new knowledge on the tridimensional hydrographic and current structure in the Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil). To reach this goal, an analysis was made from a data set of horizontal and vertical nearly-synoptic hydrographic and current measurements, from experiments realized in seasonal and tidal modulation time scales (fortnightly and tidal cycles). Four anchor stations were occupied in the austral winter and summer (July, 2000 and February, 2001); three latitudinal and one longitudinal cross-sections were made along the bay and additionally one anchor station were sampled in July, 2003, and February, 2004. The hydrographic and current profiles were sampled with a Conductivity-Temperature-Depth-Acustic-currentmeter and an Acustic Doppler Profiler. In July, 2000, the flood and ebb current highest intensities varied from 0.70 m s-1 to -0.50 m s-1 and 0.80 m s-1 to -0.60 m s-1 in the bay mouth. Salinity (temperature) structures were weakly stratified and its extreme values modulated by the currents, during the ebb-flood tidal cycle, were 34.8 (21.5oC) and 35.8 (20.5oC); the bay was classified as type 2a (partially mixed and weakly stratified), almost independently of the tidal modulation and tidal diffusion was the main mechanism for the salt intrusion into the bay. In February, 2001, flood and ebb current highest intensities varied from 0.25 m s-1 to -0.50 m s-1 and 1.00 m s-1 to -0.70 m s-1; transversal (secondary) components had low intensities (?u?<0,20 m s-1). Due to the seasonal heating and the increase in fresh water input, temperatures and salinities varied from 20.0oC to 27.0oC and 33.0 to 35.5; a signal of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) intrusion into the bay was observed. Due to the tidal modulation the classification changed from types 2b (partially mixed and highly stratified) to 2a in neap and spring tidal conditions, respectively; in the neap tide condition, tidal diffusion and the baroclinic effects were responsible for the salt transport into the bay. In July, 2003, and February, 2004, the longitudinal and transversal (secondary) velocity components, the volume and salt transport across the latitudinal transects were analysed for spring-neap tidal cycle and at flood and ebb tidal stages. In both experiments the longitudinal current component in the xv cross-sections were characterized by lateral and vertical velocities shears. The strongest currents were observed, reaching values up to 0,80 m s-1 and -0,70 m s-1 for the flood and ebb currents, during the neap-spring tidal cycle in the bay mouth. The transversal (secondary) component were usually low (?u?<0.4 m s-1), but occasionally reached higher values probably due to topographic effects. Volume transport at the bay mouth was asymmetric, showing an outflow with a phase lag of one hour in relationship with the tidal cycle; the resultant volume transport during the neap-spring tidal cycle varied from -(4.15±1.85)x103 m3 s-1 to (-7.31±2.16)x103 m3 s-1, and -(1.37±2.08)x103 to -(0.23±1.59)x103 m3 s-1 for July and February, respectively; these results indicated the water mass renewal was more effective in February. Taking into account climatological values of the fresh water discharge, the flux rate values (<0.05) indicated that the tide is the main dynamic forcing. Like in the 2001 experiment, the analysis of the T-S diagram indicated that the SACW mass was the main component for the water mass formation during the austral summer, reaching at least 15 km into the bay. The components of the advective salt transport were dependent on the cross-section area and in the bay mouth and spring tide the salt transport components had almost the same order of magnitude ?2.6x105 kg s-1. Our results shows that lateral velocity shear must be taken into account in studying transport processes in the Guanabara Bay.

<p>The aim of this thesis was to estimate and possibly quantify ocean flow by utilizing conventional and novel observational methods as well as model results. Motionally induced voltages, from a cable-based observational system in the Baltic Sea, were analysed to determine their utility for ocean monitoring. The data set was examined as regards the influence of single- and multi-layer flow. Correlation analyses undertaken in the first study showed that the geoelectric installation is capable of providing good estimates of the net flow across the Visby-Västervik transect. The second study focused on possible effects of multi-layer flow on the signal. Comparisons were made with tidal-gauge geostrophic flow estimates, and a good agreement was found, except for a few brief winter periods characterized by significant discrepancies. The velocity fields from a three-dimensional model showed that these events coincided with strong surface and bottom currents, and hence the attenuated voltage signal was suggested as being caused by the non-uniform velocity distribution.</p><p>The third study dealt with the deep-water flow through the Understen-Märket trench. Observational data indicated that this flow could be described by applying hydraulic theory. Since the passage is narrow compared to the internal Rossby radius of deformation, rotational effects could be neglected to lowest order. The theoretical predictions proved to agree well with the observational results.</p><p>The final study examined the effects of the heat flux and the wind forcing on the circulation in Bahía de Concepción, Chile, where three field surveys were undertaken during the extended austral summer 2002. Hydrographic and current measurements were compared to local tidal-gauge records. Rough estimates of the barotropic and the baroclinic flow across the transect indicated an unusual vortex circulation during periods of weak wind forcing and strong surface heating; results which were corroborated by numerical simulations.</p>

A variety of general circulation model experiments are performed to investigate the influence of seasonality and topography on the strength of baroclinic eddies in the Martian atmosphere. Three different models are used: a full physics model, a simplified physics model, and a zonally symmetric simplified physics model. All three models are sigma coordinate, finite difference global atmospheric circulation models that have been adapted to the Martian regime. The full physics model has previously been tested extensively by researchers at the NASA Ames Research Center. The simplified physics model replaces many of the atmospheric physics routines with simple parameterizations; most importantly, the radiation code is replaced by Newtonian cooling. A Newtonian cooling code with a radiative time constant that varies in height and latitude produces superior results to one with a radiative time constant that is the same everywhere throughout the atmosphere. It is found that baroclinic eddy activity is extremely sensitive to the mean meridional temperature gradient in the simplified model. A power law fit gives an exponent of approximately six. The baroclinic eddy activity is also sensitive to the maximum growth rate in the Eady model of baroclinic activity. This is due to the close connection between the meridional temperature gradient and the maximum growth rate. Baroclinic adjustment theory, which predicts how baroclinic eddies will react to changes in the mean circulation, does not appear to be valid in the Martian regime, according to the simplified model. This finding may be related to the differences in the relative strengths of the baroclinic eddies and the mean circulation on Earth and Mars. The simplified model indicates that seasonality is more important than topography in creating stronger eddies in the northern hemisphere winter than in the southern hemisphere winter. However, the effects of topography in the simplified model may not be adequately matching the effects of topography in the full physics model, particularly in the southern hemisphere. / Graduation date: 2001

The aim of this thesis was to estimate and possibly quantify ocean flow by utilizing conventional and novel observational methods as well as model results. Motionally induced voltages, from a cable-based observational system in the Baltic Sea, were analysed to determine their utility for ocean monitoring. The data set was examined as regards the influence of single- and multi-layer flow. Correlation analyses undertaken in the first study showed that the geoelectric installation is capable of providing good estimates of the net flow across the Visby-Västervik transect. The second study focused on possible effects of multi-layer flow on the signal. Comparisons were made with tidal-gauge geostrophic flow estimates, and a good agreement was found, except for a few brief winter periods characterized by significant discrepancies. The velocity fields from a three-dimensional model showed that these events coincided with strong surface and bottom currents, and hence the attenuated voltage signal was suggested as being caused by the non-uniform velocity distribution. The third study dealt with the deep-water flow through the Understen-Märket trench. Observational data indicated that this flow could be described by applying hydraulic theory. Since the passage is narrow compared to the internal Rossby radius of deformation, rotational effects could be neglected to lowest order. The theoretical predictions proved to agree well with the observational results. The final study examined the effects of the heat flux and the wind forcing on the circulation in Bahía de Concepción, Chile, where three field surveys were undertaken during the extended austral summer 2002. Hydrographic and current measurements were compared to local tidal-gauge records. Rough estimates of the barotropic and the baroclinic flow across the transect indicated an unusual vortex circulation during periods of weak wind forcing and strong surface heating; results which were corroborated by numerical simulations.

Small back-barrier sand islands are poorly known in terms of hydrogeology and have been overlooked in more extensive studies of coastal groundwater systems that include larger barrier island complexes. This study employs a three-fold sequential approach to aquifer characterisation in a back-barrier sand island. A three-dimensional stratigraphic model forms the foundation framework, being derived from a multidisciplinary approach to sedimentary analysis and the construction of a depositional chronology. A conceptual hydrostratigraphic model is formulated based on the translation of sedimentary facies to hydrofacies, combined with density dependent flow calculations and tidal oscillation measurements. Groundwater hydrochemical data and mineral geochemistry are integrated with the resulting hydrogeological model to examine water-rock interaction and solute transport mechanisms. The study area is Toorbul Island, a small back-barrier sand mass of ~5 km2 with a maximum surface elevation of ~3.5 m AHD, located in the Pumicestone Passage of Southeast Queensland. The island hosts a dual aquifer system consisting of an unconfined island freshwater lens, underlain by a semi-confined palaeovalley-fill aquifer. Groundwater in the semi-confined aquifer is hyper-saline, carrying high concentrations of dissolved metals, with iron, in particular, ranging from 40 to < 200 mg l-1. This is of significant interest for both human health and environmental management, because iron is an important nutrient source for toxic algal bacteria such as Lyngbya majuscula. Conceptual modelling demonstrates that iron oxides and hydroxides are the main source of iron in the semi-confined aquifer, with a contribution from ferruginous chlorite dissolution. Aqueous manganese and a proportion of the aqueous iron are derived from the dissolution of manganoan ilmenite. Ferric iron minerals also contribute a significant proportion of dissolved iron in the deeper regions of the unconfined aquifer. Aqueous iron in the shallow unconfined groundwater is limited by iron sulphides, which also regulate acidity and indirectly limit dissolved aluminium concentrations. Groundwater redox state governed by seasonal climatic fluxes is the most significant control on iron-bearing mineral phase stability. Transport of dissolved metals to the surrounding estuary and the adjacent barrier island groundwater system is limited by the rate of ion diffusion across transition zone boundaries. The overall conclusions derived from this research show that back-barrier islands should be evaluated as discrete hydrogeological entities. The stratigraphic complexity that may be apparent within these island landforms should not be underestimated and the model domain should not necessarily be treated as a homogeneous system. This complexity is exemplified by the relationship between the upper and lower aquifers on Toorbul Island and the associated distribution of groundwater compositional heterogeneity. The complex stratigraphy within the sedimentary pile is derived from the presence of a sub-surface palaeovalley and the sedimentary response to changing sea-level over time. Considering the current widespread distribution of estuarine systems, complex hydrogeology as exhibited by Toobul Island, may be common in many small back-barrier island groundwater systems. The aquifer characteristics and their influence on solute transport and delivery can have significant ramifications for the exploitation of the adjacent coastal plain and barrier island aquifers. The potential influence on the latter is of particular concern due to the pressure imposed on potable groundwater supplies by increasing population densities in coastal areas.

The thesis is presented in alternative format, meaning that the results of the thesis take the form of three journal articles, each telling a distinct story within the subject matter, but collectively highlighting the sensitivity of bands to frictional and diabatic processes. Paper 1 is an idealised-modelling study with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, in which moist baroclinic waves are simulated from an initial zonally uniform mid-latitude jet on an f-plane at 20-km grid spacing, and the sensitivity of the resulting precipitation bands is explored. Paper 2 employs further WRF idealised-baroclinic-wave simulations and takes a simulation from Paper 1, after the cold front has formed, as the initial condition. A nested domain at 4-km grid spacing is inserted when this simulation is re-initialised to invesigate the sensitivity of finer-scale precipitation cores along the surface cold front. In both Papers 1 and 2, friction and latent-heat release enhance multiple banding at the two distinct horizontal scales, while surface fluxes hinder multiple banding. Paper 3 studies post-frontal snowbands over the English Channel and Irish Sea during extreme cold-air outbreaks in the winters of 2009-10 and 2010-11, via a climatology of precipitation-radar, sounding, and SST data, and real-data WRF sensitivity simulations of one such band over the English Channel. The observational and modelling results show that strong winds and large differential heat fluxes between land and sea were necessary to generate banded precipitation. Coastal orography and the land-sea frictional contrast aided the morphology of bands, but banded precipitation did still form in the absence of these influences in the sensitivity simulations. These three studies and the thesis as a whole highlight the role of frictional and diabatic processes in modifying various types of precipitation bands within baroclinic waves, and in generating bands that would otherwise not exist.

As pointed out by Farrell, a normalmode analysis alone may be not enough for a convicing investigation of baroclinic stability. In some models growth rates can be achieved large enough to enable nonlinear growth also in parameter ranges of neutral normalmodes. According to Farrell one has also to consider that structures, which achieve optimal growth for a given, fixed time interval (i.e. the singular vectors). Fischer (1998) investigated this problem for the classical Eady-model with q'' = 0 - a case which can be treated analytically. In this paper we want to give a short overview of an investigation of singular vectors in Eady-models with β ≠ 0 and q'' = 0. Our aim was to understand the influence of β ≠ 0 on optimal growth. Qualitative differences to Fischer’s results are only found at small wavenumbers below the longwave cutoff. The most remarkable difference beyond the longwave cutoff is the fact, that the singular vectors of the model with β ≠ 0 grow faster in the upper half of the fluid than in the lower half for the considered basic flows. The growth rates for parameter ranges of neutral normalmodes are too small to enable nonlinear growth effects in meteorologically relevant times. For long timescales we find, that the cutoffs must be understood more as a smooth transition to instability.

The three-dimensional (3D) baroclinic response of Cayuga Lake to surface wind forcing was investigated using the fully nonhydrostatic MITgcm. The model was validated against observed temperature data using a hydrostatic 450 m (horizontal) grid and both qualitative and quantitative methods. The model correctly reproduces the basin-scale dynamics (e.g., seiche with horizontal mode-one period T1 = 80 h) with a basin-wide root-mean-square error of 1.9 C. Nonlinear internal surges were visualized to evolve due to (i) a wind-induced locally downwelled thermocline (wind duration Twind < T1/4), (ii) a basin-scale wind-induced upwelled thermocline (Twind > T1/4), (iii) internal hydraulic jumps (IHJs). Results from a 113 m grid and field observations were used to characterize the basin-scale internal wave field according to composite Froude number (G2), Wedderburn number (WN), and Lake number (LN). The typical Cayuga Lake response is a surge when ~ 1 < WN (LN) < ~ 2-12 and a surge with emergent nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) when WN or LN < ~ 2, in agreement with published laboratory studies. An observed shock front was simulated to be an IHJ, occurring at mid-basin during strong winds when WN < 0.8. This is the first simulation of a mid-basin seiche-induced IHJ due to super critical conditions (G2 > 1) in a lake. The topographic-induced IHJs were also shown to form when the surges interact with a sill-contraction topographic feature. Both high-resolution hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic models were used to investigate the evolution, propagation and shoaling of NLIWs at medium lake-scale. A nonhydrostatic 22 m grid with lepticity λ ~ 1 ensures minimal numerical relative to physical dispersion, qualitatively reproducing observed dispersive NLIWs using ~ 2.3E+8 grid cells. Solitary waves evolve with almost unchanged wavelengths upon grid refinement from 40 m (λ ~ 2) to 22 m; suggesting model convergence to the correct solution. Corresponding hydrostatic grids were shown to produce a packet of narrower spurious solitary-like motions with different wavelengths, representing a balance between nonlinear steepening and numerical dispersion. Local gyre-like patterns and secondary transverse NLIW packets were visualized to result from wave-topography interaction, suggesting that NLIW propagation in long narrow lakes, where the bottom topography has irregularities is fundamentally 3D. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-14 12:45:21.727

We use hydrographic and direct velocity observations from two quasi-synoptic cruises in conjunction with a primitive equation linear instability model, to investigate the Brazil Current (BC) downstream change effect between 23°S-30°S on the temporal mixed instabilities properties. The quasi-synoptic data revealed that the BC is &#8764;400-500 m deep to the north of the so-called Santos Bifurcation (26°S-28°S) and extends down to 1000 m to the south of it. We estimated that the BC receives at least 7 Sv from the Santos Bifurcation, which drastically alters the BC\'s velocity vertical structure and meanders characteristics as it flows poleward. Based on direct velocity measurements, we computed the mixed-instability properties at three different latitudes (24°S, 26°S and 30°S). The instability analysis revealed unstable current systems to mesoscale perturbations with maximum growth rates of 0.12, 0.19 and 0.06 day-1 at 24°S, 26°S and 30°S respectively. The corresponding downstream phase speeds are -0.19, -0.24 and -0.26 m s-1. The analysis of the mean-to-eddy energy conversion terms show that the barotropic instability drains 60-90% less energy from the background state than the baroclinic instability. Nevertheless, the maximum growth rates are at least the double in magnitude when both instabilities occur simultaneously. The topography presents a stabilizing effect for both kind of instabilities along all the BC path. At the vicinities of the Cape Santa Marta (28°S), we explored the the recurrent cyclonic meanders of the BC. Combining a wide range of observations, we provided a overview of such features and the relations between its velocity patterns, the water properties (temperature, salinity, nutrients), chlorophyll-a distribution and the BC variability. The top-bottom quasi-synoptic velocity measurements depicted cyclonic meanders over the continental slope with diameters larger than 100 km and vertically extending to approximately 1500 m depth. Moreover, the observed eddies seems to trap and recirculate a small portion (&#8764;1.5 to 4 Sv) of the BC main flow (-13.16 to -17.89 Sv), which is consisted of Tropical Water (TW), South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW). Additionally, we presented observational evidence that the meanders actively influence the transport of nutrient-rich shelf waters to the open ocean enhancing the primary productivity at the photic zone over the continental slope. Satellite imagery show that these cyclonic events occur 5-6 times per year and are generally associated with wave-like perturbations on the flow with mean wavelength of &#8764;219 km. Finally, Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) analysis computed from an array of mooring lines show that more than half of the along-isobath velocity variance on the continental slope is explained by the BC mesoscale activity. / As propriedades de instabilidade temporal mista da Corrente do Brasil (CB), entre 23°S-30°S, foram investigadas combinando dados hidrográficos e medições diretas de velocide com modelagem numérica. As observações revelaram uma CB com &#8764;400-500 m de profundidade ao norte da Bifurcação de Santos (26°S-28°S). Em contrapartida, a CB ao sul da bifurcação se mostrou muito mais profunda (> 1000 m) devido ao aporte de aproximadamente 7 Sv de águas em profundidades intermediárias (&#8764;500-1500 m) oriundas do ramo sul da Bifurcação de Santos. Baseado-se nas observações, experimentos numéricos foram conduzidos em três latitudes (24°S, 26°S and 30°S), com o intuito de se estudar as propriedades da instabilidade geofísica da CB. Tais experimentos mostraram que o sistema de correntes é instável para perturbações de mesoescala com taxas de crescimento máximas de 0,12, 0,19 and 0,06 dia-1 nas latitudes de 24°S, 26°S and 30°S, respectivamente. A análise das taxas de transferências de energia das correntes médias para as pertubações revelou que a instabilidade barotrópica é de 60 a 90% menor que a instabilidade baroclínica. No entanto observou-se que as propriedades das instabilidades da BC são altamente sensíveis à presença de instabilidade barotrópica. A topografia demonstrou possuir um efeito estabilizador ao longo de toda trajetória da CB. Ao largo do Cabo de Santa Marta (28°S) os meandros ciclônicos da CB tiveram suas características exploradas do ponto de vista observacional. Combinando uma grande variedade de observações, foi obtido uma visão geral de tais feições, assim como as relações entre seus padrões de velocidade, propriedades da água do mar (temperatura, salinidade, nutrientes), distribuição de clorofila A e a variabilidade da BC. As observações quasi-sinóticas de velocidade em toda a coluna mostraram que os meandros possuem diâmetro superiores à 100 km e extensão vertical de aproximadamente 1500 m. Desta forma, observou-se feições que recirculam uma pequena parte (&#8764;1.5 à 4 Sv) do eixo principal da CB (-13.16 à -17.8 Sv) composta por Água Tropical, Água Central do Atlântico Sul, Água Intermediária Antártica e Água Circumpolar Superior. Além disso, evidências de que tais meandros influenciam ativamente no transporte de águas da Plataforma Continental, ricas em nutrientes, para regiões profundas do Talude Continental foram encontradas. A análise de imagens de satelitárias indicaram que essas feições são efetivamente recorrentes na região e ocorrrem entre 5 a 6 vezes por ano. Para concluir, registros correntográficos indicaram que aproximadamente metade da variância da componente da velocidade ao logo das isóbatas, sobre o talude continental, é devido à atividade de mesoescala da CB.