Study of the paleoclimatic alterations in central Amazonia, through the use of 14C dating and isotopic reason 13C/12C

• Grant number: 95/03037-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 1995
• End date: December 31, 1997
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Ruiz Pessenda
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos Ruiz Pessenda
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the use of carbon isotopes (12C, 13C and 14C) from the organic matter of soils in the region of Humaitá, south of the state of Amazonas, it is intended to evaluate the existing dynamic in the sequence cerrado- transition-natural forest predominant in the area. How long these vegetations have been present naturally in the Amazonian ecosystem, appearing to be in equilibrium or in regression/expansion, are important questions to be answered. Using the same isotopic analyses in fossils buried in the ground (charcoals), additional information with respect to paleovegetations from photosynthetic cycle C3 or C4 could also be obtained. (AU)