Interaction between mantle dynamics and surface processes in continental margins

• Grant number: 13/21084-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Victor Sacek
• Grantee: Victor Sacek
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Many geological and geophysical observations show that the Earth's surface is dynamically perturbed by convective processes in the mantle that create an expressive topography component, called dynamic topography, that modifies the subsidence history of sedimentary basins and the evolution of the continents denudation. In spite of its importance, few works show the study of the interaction between surface processes and the convective dynamic of the mantle in a coupled way. The aim of this project is to explore the interaction between mantle dynamic and the surface processes of erosion and sedimentation through numerical models that appropriately simulate the physical and geological behavior of each process to quantify its influence on the evolution of continental margins. Additionally, the project intends to assess how the three dimensional geometry of the margin affects the thermal history of the lithosphere and the evolution of the marginal basins, therefore contributing to the understanding of the evolution of continental margins, specially the divergent margins in the South Atlantic. The first step of the project is dedicated to unify the computational codes that simulate the mantle dynamics and the surface processes. After the validation of the coupled model, sensitivity analysis for the different physical and geometric parameters will be done, evaluating the influence of each factor in the evolution of the continental margin. Geological and geophysical data like gravimetry, seismic tomography, thermochronology and stratigraphy, will be used to constrain the numerical models. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SACEK, VICTOR. Drainage reversal of the Amazon River due to the coupling of surface and lithospheric processes. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 401, p. 301-312, SEP 1 2014. (13/21084-8, 11/10400-0)

SACEK, VICTOR. Post-rift influence of small-scale convection on the landscape evolution at divergent continental margins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 459, p. 48-57, FEB 1 2017. (13/21084-8)