Processing of shallow seismic data for the characterization of sedimentary structures in deposits of the Amazon River

• Grant number: 17/03018-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Renato Paes de Almeida
• Grantee: Ariel Henrique Do Prado
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/50260-6 - Structure and evolution of the Amazonian biota and its environment: an integrative approach, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The Amazon River is an active large river within a complex system and with very controversial evolution models. The interpretation study of architectural elements and analysis of facies can help in the understanding of great rivers and contribute to the models of evolution of the Amazon Basin. There are several works that compare active rivers with geological record, but there is a shortage of data collected in large active rivers. In order to make the interpretation of large active river deposits more efficient and to compare them with sedimentary rocks of the fluvial environment of the past, geophysical methods were introduced that allow to analyze in an indirect way the subsurface of the bars and the active channel. The application of shallow seismic equipment (BOMMER, CHIRP and PES - Parametric Echo Sound) and GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) have different functions and allow the identification of small recent sedimentary structures and larger structures in greater depth (this depends on the frequency in which each equipment operates). However, the data obtained by such equipment needs to be processed before they can be interpreted, so this project seeks to improve this step by using adequate software for each equipment and determining the best instrument for each type of investigation. (AU)