Model output prepared in support of the analysis of impacts to the stratification along the Brazilian shelf under a strong warming scenario (RCP8.5)

• Main Authors: de Souza, Mihael Machado, Mathis, Moritz, Pohlmann, Thomas
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: World Data Center for Climate (WDCC) at DKRZ 2020
• Subjects: Climate; ECC-BRS; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.26050/wdcc/ecc-brs_hamsom; http://cera-www.dkrz.de/WDCC/ui/Compact.jsp?acronym=ECC-BRS_HAMSOM

Project: Effects of Climate Change in the Physical Conditions of the Brazilian Shelf - This project aims to investigate the possible impacts of anthropogenic climate change to the Brazilian shelf waters. This is carried out by analyzing its impact to process at large (Brazil-Malvinas Confluence) and regional scales (shelf water stratification and the upwelling of South Atlantic Central Water), affecting the continental shelf. These analysis are based on the downscaling of outputs from the Max-Planck-Institute Earth System Model - Mixed Resolution (MPI-ESM-MR, CMIP5) to a domain with high horizontal resolution (1/12 degrees) over the South Atlantic Ocean, using the HAMSOM model. This is a doctoral research project, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service through a scholarship from its Doctoral Programmes. Summary: This experiment aims to investigate the impact of anthropogenic climate change to the stratification of the Brazilian shelf waters under a strong warming scenario (RCP8.5). Earth System Models (ESMs) predict a stronger increase in stratification over the equatorial regions, due to the increased surface warming. However, they cannot account for all relevant regional processes due to their coarse horizontal resolution. One of the more relevant local processes unresolved by ESMs is the upwelling of South Atlantic Central Water along subtropical Brazil. It brings cold and nutrient-rich waters towards the coast to the most productive shelf regions along the Brazilian coastal waters and is known to play an important role in the stratification of the South Brazil Bight. By including this process in our analysis through our downscaling experiment, we can provide a more complete assessment of the effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions in the stratification of the Brazilian continental shelf.