Foram analisados dados de correntes e de propriedades hidrográficas amostradas durante três ciclos completos de maré, em dezembro de 1991. O máximo valor da componente longitudinal da velocidade da corrente variou, para as condições de enchente e de vazante, de 50 a -100 cm/s com esses extremos precedendo de 1,0 a 1,5 horas a ocorrência dos instantes de maré alta e baixa, respectivamente. A componente transversal de velocidade mostrou que a circulação secundária predominava na direção leste com núcleos de máxima de até 30 cm/s em profundidades médias, enquanto que no sentido oposto (para oeste) essa componente apresentou valores máximos próximos a -10 cm/s na camada de superfície. A variabilidade da salinidade indicou uma quase homogeneidade vertical e durante a enchente o seu máximo (34,5-35,0 %o) precede a maré alta com uma defasagem de 1,0-2,0 horas. Entretanto, durante a vazante, a maré baixa precede o mínimo de salinidade (29,5-30,5 %o) com defasagens entre 2 e 3 horas. Não obstante a região estudada ser parte de um complexo sistema estuarino de planície costeira, o extremo sul do Mar de Cananéia foi classificado, de acordo com o Diagrama Estratificação-circulação, como parcialmente misturado e fracamente estratificado (Tipo 2a). O movimento resultante reverte a 2,5 m de profundidade e quase 100% do fluxo de sal estuário acima é devido a difusão turbulenta.

Current and hydrographic properties sampled during three tidal cycles in December, 1991, were analysed. The highest values of the along channel velocity for the flood and ebb varied from 50 cm/s to -100 cm/s, respectively, and these values lead the high and low water occurrence with a time lag of 1.0-1.5 hours. The secondary circulation (cross channel component) predominates towards east with speeds in midwater depths up to 30 cm/s. Towards the west the secondary circulation was observed only in the upper layer with maxima speeds close to -10 cm/s. Salinity variability indicates little vertical stratification and during the flood its highest value (34.5-35.0%o) lags high waters at time intervals of 1.0-2.0 hours. However, during the ebb flow the low water leads the salinity minima (29.5-30.5%o) at time intervals between 2 and 3 hours. Although the studied region is part of a complex coastal plain estuary, the southern region of the Cananéia Sea was classified according to the Stratification-circulation Diagram, as partially mixed and weakly stratified (Type 2a). Its net motion reverses at 2.5 m depth and almost 100% of the upstream salt flux is due to turbulent diffusion.

Análises de dados de maré, da zona equatorial, obtidos com ecobatímetros invertidos, mostram consideráveis resíduos na faixa de freqüências com aproximadamente dois ciclos por dia. Nos harmônicos pares com 4 e 6 ciclos por dia são também identificadas componentes de maré estatisticamente não desprezíveis. Análises espectrais de séries de temperatura obtidas na mesma área mostram, 218 por outro lado, variabilidades na mesma faixa de freqüências, o que sugere a ocorrência, na área equatorial Atlântica, de ondas internas com energia distribuída nessas faixas espectrais.

The tidal analysis of data from the Equatorial region, given by inverted echo-sounders, show considerable residuals in the frequency band of approximately 2 cycles per day. In the even harmonics of 4 and 6 cycles per day, tidal components statistically not negligible are also identified. Spectral analysis of temperature series from the same area show, on the other hand, variabilities in the same frequency bands, which suggests the occurrence of internal waves with energy distributed in these frequency bands, in the Atlantic Equatorial area.

A western margin frontal zone is described, from measurements of temperature, salinity and currents, in a section taken with R/V "Prof. W. Besnard" in December 1980, crossing the shelf break border at latitude 26º30'S. The analyses of the sections showed consistently the occurrence of an ascension of the T and S isolines over the shelf break. Simultaneous current measurements showed a surface eddy structure with clockwise circulation and anti-clockwise circulation having a common stem over the break characterizing a shelf break upwelling.

Current, temperature and salinity data from two sections and 13 days time series are analysed. Additional data from other efforts are summarized with other contributions yielding a tentative winter surface circulation model of the area. From the summary, mechanisms of the upwelling at Cabo Frio are suggested.

This paper is a survey of the main spectral methods potentially useful in Oceanography. These methods are applied to the analysis of tides, seasonal variations and ocean geophysical oscillations. Further topics on the Response Method, the Maximum Entropy method and Rotary Components are briefly summarized. Examples of successful appli cations are presented.