Facies models for floodplains and bar tops in large rivers of the Amazon

• Grant number: 23/18087-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Renato Paes de Almeida
• Grantee: Pedro Victor Oliveira Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/23899-2 - Trans-Amazon Drilling Project: origin and evolution of the forests, climate, and hydrology of the South American tropics, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

The Amazon River represents the largest drainage basin on the planet and harbors four of the world's ten largest rivers. Its minimally impacted hydrological regime and limited anthropogenic interference in its floodplain make this fluvial system a strong candidate for understanding the sedimentary dynamics of major rivers worldwide. Despite extensive research focus on fluvial systems over an extended period, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding large rivers due to inherent challenges in researching these regions. The characterization of sedimentary processes and the resulting deposits on the bar tops and floodplains are crucial tools for understanding the geological record, a central focus of ongoing international research projects such as the Trans-Amazon Drilling Project. Through the description of sedimentary facies, depositional architecture, and the characterization of exposed bedforms during the dry season of the Amazonian rivers using granulometric and compositional sediment analyses, this project aims to compile sedimentological data. These data will contribute to the development of a robust facies model for large rivers, contrasting with those derived from smaller river systems.