Meteorological Signal on Hydrodynamics in the Ilha Grande and Sepetiba Bays: Lag Effects and Coastal Currents

A significant meteorological signal lag of 4.92 hours plays a crucial role in shaping the hydrodynamics of Ilha Grande and Sepetiba Bays, Brazil, by inducing water level differences between bay entrances and generating strong currents through the narrow Ilha Grande Channel. Unlike tidal forces, which exhibit minimal coastal lag (1 minute), this remote meteorological effect drives substantial fluxes that cannot be explained by baroclinic effects or seiches alone. The study employed a nested coastal-ocean model to analyze the interplay between meteorological and tidal forcings, revealing how signal propagation delays influence bay dynamics—a finding with implications for understanding complex estuarine systems.

Pereira, N. E. d. S., Vinzón, S. B., Gallo, M. N., & Gabioux, M. (2024). Meteorological Signal on Hydrodynamics in the Ilha Grande and Sepetiba Bays: Lag Effects and Coastal Currents. Hydrology, 11(2), 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11020015