Tectonic, climatic and erosional evolution in convergent margins: a numerical approach

• Grant number: 11/10400-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Naomi Ussami
• Grantee: Victor Sacek
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this project is to study the coupling between tectonics, erosion and climate in convergent margins through numerical modeling. The starting point of this new model is the three-dimensional (3D) numerical model developed by the principal investigator during his doctorate to study the interaction of tectonic and erosional processes in divergent margins. This first model incorporates flexural isostasy of the lithosphere, thermal processes in the mantle and crust, faulting of the upper crust, stretching of the lithosphere and surface processes of erosion and deposition. In the present project, the model will be improved, including convergent tectonism and coupling with climate processes. This new 3D numerical approach is necessary to appropriately describe the complex geometries of orogens and continental margins. Different physical parameters of the lithosphere and geometrical configurations of the orogen will be studied to evaluate how they influenced the drainage, erosion and deposition through the geological time, not only in the vicinities of the orogen but throughout the continent. As an application, the new numerical model will be applied in the case of the South American plate, aiming to evaluate how the uplift of the Andean chain influenced and was influenced by the erosion and deposition in South America. Observational data like gravimetry, thermochronology and stratigraphy will be used as constraints for the numerical models. Furthermore, this project aims to set up a new line of investigation on numerical modeling of geological processes in Brazil. (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)

ASSUMPCAO, MARCELO; SACEK, VICTOR. Intra-plate seismicity and flexural stresses in central Brazil. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 40, n. 3, p. 487-491, FEB 16 2013. (11/10400-0)

SACEK, VICTOR; USSAMI, NAOMI. Upper mantle viscosity and dynamic subsidence of curved continental margins. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, v. 4, JUN 2013. (09/50493-8, 11/10400-0)