Evaluation of baroclinic effects on mean water levels in Guanabara Bay

ABSTRACT This study analyzes hydrodynamic aspects of the Guabanara Bay estuarine system, which is in the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hydrodynamic circulation patterns were characterized, with and without the influence of baroclinic pressure gradients due to water density differences. Typical summer and winter scenarios are considered. The evaluation adopted computational simulations of hydrodynamic circulation, using models from the environmental hydrodynamic base system, entitled SisBaHiA. The simulations indicate that by disregarding baroclinic effects in the pressure gradients, the mean water levels in the Guanabara Bay are underestimated up to 5 centimeters, depending on the region and season of year. However, the hydrodynamic circulation patterns with or without baroclinic pressure gradients are very similar, as shown by the circulation patterns maps in different tidal phases.