Changes in the sedimentation of the Brazilian equatorial margin since the last deglacial

• Grant number: 24/23346-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Geological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Pereira dos Santos
• Grantee: Maysa Almeida Leonetti
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/15123-4 - Past perspectives on tipping elements of the climate system: the Amazon Rainforest and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (PPTEAM), AP.PFPMCG.JP2

Abstract

The last deglaciation, transitioning from the Last Glacial Maximum to the early Holocene, was marked by significant climatic shifts that impacted sedimentary dynamics along continental margins. These changes, driven by alterations in ocean circulation and the hydrological cycle, produced sedimentation patterns that provide valuable insights into how these margins responded to past climate change. This Scientific Initiation project aims to investigate sedimentation processes along the Brazilian equatorial margin, with a focus on the climatic and hydrological mechanisms that have influenced these processes since the last deglaciation. To achieve this, radiocarbon dating will be performed on ten sediment cores collected during the AMARYLLIS-AMAGAS II expedition, in order to develop a detailed chronological framework for sedimentation in the region. Preliminary findings suggest that sedimentation rates are influenced by factors such as proximity to the continental margin and key oceanographic drivers, including the North Brazil Current and the Intertropical Convergence Zone. However, enhancing the chronological resolution through additional radiocarbon dates is essential to capturing the temporal dynamics of these sedimentary processes in greater detail. This project aims to provide a more accurate analysis of sedimentation patterns along the Brazilian equatorial margin since the last deglaciation. The results will contribute crucial insights into the paleoclimate and hydrological changes that have shaped the region's sedimentary dynamics.