Origin and evolution of the prograding infralittoral wedge in the São Sebastião island (inner continental shelf, Santos-Ubatuba sector)

• Grant number: 14/08295-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Geological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Isabel Montoya Montes
• Grantee: Isabel Montoya Montes
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Francisco José Lobo Sánchez ; Javier Alcántara Carrio ; Luis Somoza Losada ; María José Sánchez García ; Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques ; Paola Maria Castellano Ossa Fernandes ; Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira ; Silvia Albarracín González

Abstract

The modern sedimentary processes are controlled by the hydrodynamic processes and the oceanic water mass dynamics in the Southeast Brazilian continental margin. The aim of this project is to characterize the infralittoral prograding wedge off São Sebastião Island. The initial hypothesis is based on the convergence of the currents coming from the north and the south, and on their confluence in the region of São Sebastião Island. The lack of important fluvial inputs generating such sedimentary bodies leads to think of an origin related to the continental shelf hydrodynamic processes. The integrated use of geophysical and sedimentological techniques coordinated with a detailed chronological control, is proposed. The results will include the characterization of both: the prograding wedge and the dynamic processes responsible for the formation and evolution of the deposit. This will enable the establishment of the paleoceanographic evolution of the region. (AU)