Influence of the Amazon River plume on the sedimentological and geochemical composition of the Amazon Continental Shelf during the Holocene

• Grant number: 25/07450-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Geological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Luigi Jovane
• Grantee: Virgínia Soares Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project presents the partial results obtained during the term of the scientific initiation grant (process 2024/05164-6) associated with the thematic project "Sea Level Changes and the Global Monsoon System: Assessment Through Marine Cores in Brazil" coordinated by Professor Luigi Jovane (process 16/24946-9). Cores MEQ1A-1 (22 cm) and MEQ7A-1 (31 cm) were collected in the western portion of the Brazilian Equatorial Margin (MEB), subsampled every 1 cm and subjected to mineralogical and elemental geochemical analyses. From the new term of this scientific initiation grant, it is intended to perform granulometric and isotopic geochemical analyses on the samples from the cores mentioned above. The samples associated with the granulometric analysis will be subjected to the removal of organic matter, decarbonation and will be analyzed in the laser granulometer of the CORE laboratory (IO-USP). The isotopic geochemical analysis will be performed on planktonic foraminifera Globirerionoides ruber white (spp.) and Globorotalia truncatulinoides. These samples will be washed and subsequently separated from these species for measurement of ¿13C to ¿18O. The continuity of this project will allow a better understanding of the paleoclimatic and oceanographic changes near the mouth of the Amazon River during the late Holocene.