<b> Study of salinity and the relationship with cold fronts and rainfall in Patos Laggon estuary </b>

Abstract

The Patos Lagoon has a large estuary-ocean interface that is directly influenced by meteorological factors, such as passages of frontal systems, wind patterns and rainfall. Changes in these regimes lead anomalies in the standard input of marine water and flow in the estuary, increasing the salinity. This variation in salinity influences the development of the pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis). In this work was calculated the average monthly salinity at seven points in the estuary. Points near the channel connecting the estuary to the ocean have greater variability. Points located in the most shallow and sheltered have less variability. Furthermore, was found that the passage of cold fronts through the region influences the increase of salinity in estuary.