In the first decades of the 1500s, European researchers found an incredible corner of nature on the east coast of Brazil, where white beaches, turquoise waters, small lagoons and picturesque mountains were located. But the most exciting factor was that water in one of the areas was marked by an extraordinary coolness compared to the surrounding waters. The discrepancy between the temperatures was so noticeable that the researchers called this region of Cabo-Frio, which translated from Portuguese as a "cold cape".
In 2022, Landsat 9 satellite took fascinating pictures that show how cold the surface water is around Cabo-Frio. Thanks to these photos, scientists were able to solve the mystery of this natural phenomenon.
It turned out that the cause of cold water in Cabo-Frio is the rise of cold water from the depths of the ocean to the surface. This is due to the influence of dominant winds blowing along the coast over the majority of the year, especially in the spring and summer. Strong northeast winds push warm surface water from the shore, and cold water from the depths rises in their place.
This natural phenomenon not only impresses, but also has a positive effect on local ecosystems. Deep waters are saturated with nutrients necessary for the development of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton, in turn, becomes the basis of the food chain for numerous marine animals.
Previous research indicates that the area with cool waters extends 200 kilometers in length and approximately 20 kilometers wide. In this case, the water temperature in certain areas may vary by 8 degrees Celsius from the temperature of the surrounding water.
