Análise das marés meteorológicas na cidade de Natal - RN em função da atuação dos ventos costeiros

Abstract

This study analyzes the influence of winds on the formation of meteorological tides in the Potengi river estuary in Rio Grande do Norte, located in Natal. A region that has already presented problems with the phenomenon of tides and does not have works that address the topic. Its objective is to evaluate how the intensity and direction of the wind influence the formation of meteorological tides on the banks of the Potengi River, in Natal, RN. Sea level height data from the National Oceanographic Data Bank (BNDO) and coastal wind data from the ERA5 reanalysis were used. The tide analysis was carried out using the UTide set of algorithms, decomposing the data into harmonic components and calculating the meteorological tide by subtracting the astronomical constituents from the total observed height. Pearson's linear correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between the meteorological tide and the direction and intensity of coastal winds. Predominant southeast winds were observed throughout the four seasons, influencing the formation of meteorological tides. There was a positive correlation between wind intensity and direction and sea level fluctuations, especially in the south, east and southeast quadrants. The results highlight the importance of wind in the formation of meteorological tides in the studied region, involving various coastal and port activities.