Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Amazon Continental Shelf

The general objective of this portion of AmasSeds (A Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf SEDiment Study) is to understand how evidence of environmental processes influencing the Amazon shelf is preserved in the underlying sedimentary strata. Unfortunately, strata are imperfect recorders of environmental...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oceanography (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 1991-01, Vol.4 (1), p.33-38
Main Authors: Nittrouer, Charles A., Kuehl, Steven A., Rine, James M., Figueiredo, Alberto G., Faria, L. Ercilio C., Dias, Gilberto T.M., Silva, M. Augusta M., Allison, Mead A., Pacioni, Thomas D., Segali, Marylin P., Underkoffler, Ellen C., Borges, Heloisa V., Silveira, Odete F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coasts
Cruises
Fluvial deposition
Fluvial erosion
Marine
Mud
Ocean floor
River deltas
Sediments
Shorelines
Water depth
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Summary:The general objective of this portion of AmasSeds (A Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf SEDiment Study) is to understand how evidence of environmental processes influencing the Amazon shelf is preserved in the underlying sedimentary strata. Unfortunately, strata are imperfect recorders of environmental events. In oceanic settings near large sediment sources, net accumulation of sediment may occur; however, in a physically dynamic setting, the preserved strata may contain numerous breaks of non-deposition or erosion. A fundamental question concerns what environmental interpretations are possible from sedimentary sequences which are punctuated by missing strata. This question assumes additional importance when a setting, such as the Amazon shelf, records the history for much of a continent and an equatorial ocean. In order to meet the general objective and to build on existing knowledge, several specific objectives are being undertaken by this project. The first is to identify the dominant processes controlling strata formation on different time and vertical-length scales. These scales range from hours to millenia and from microns to tens of meters. Secondly, the project is attempting to determine how the oceanic processes operate on sediment to emplace characteristics within preserved strata. Both of these objectives require close involvement with the other research groups in AmasSeds. A third objective is to understand how partial preservation of strata affects interpretation of environmental settings and processes. This will help to impart geological relevance to the AmasSeds program. (DBO)
ISSN:1042-8275
2377-617X
DOI:10.5670/oceanog.1991.19