A Nappe Socorro - Guaxupé representa um antigo arco magmático formado durante a fase colisional do Orógeno Brasília Meridional, um dos importantes eventos orogênicos do Neoproterozóico responsáveis pela aglutinação da porção ocidental do paleocontinente Gondwana. Na porção sudeste do Domínio Socorro, muitas das zonas de cisalhamento de direção NE-SW condicionaram a colocação de inúmeros corpos e batólitos de granitóides cálcio - alcalinos potássicos gerados a partir da fusão crustal sin - orogênica da nappe, durante o pico metamórfico em um ambiente de altas temperaturas a baixas profundidades. Na região são encontrados ortognaisses e migmatitos não correlacionáveis aos migmatitos estromáticos pelíticos a semi-pelíticos dominantes da Unidade Metatexítica da Nappe. Até o momento essas rochas eram consideradas parte do Complexo Amparo, como embasamento do Complexo Granitóide Socorro. Este trabalho apresenta dados geoquímicos, isotópicos e geocronológicos inéditos para rochas da região entre Extrema e Camanducaia, sul de Minas Gerais, e que permitiram caracterizar o magmatismo que deu origem a esses ortognaisses e sua evolução crustal, bem como determinar sua idade dentro do contexto Neoproterozóico da Nappe Socorro - Guaxupé. Idades U-Pb obtidas em cristais de zircão do paleossoma diorítico nos ortognaisses metatexíticos forneceram idade de 662,1 ± 5,1 Ma. Idades pontuais mais antigas entre 770 e 834 Ma foram encontradas apenas em núcleos herdados. Em ortognaisses dioríticos a granodioríticos, onde não foram iniciados processos de fusão parcial, idades U-Pb em zircões de um ortognaisse de composição diorítica forneceram idades entre 660 e 630 Ma, implicando em um magmatismo Neoproterozóico atuante ao longo do período pré a sin-colisional da Nappe Socorro Guaxupé, em um ambiente de arco magmático estacionário por pelo menos 30 Ma, situação análoga a que ocorre atualmente no arco magmático do Japão. O magmatismo que deu origem aos ortognaisses dioríticos a granodioríticos possui afinidades com a série cálcio-alcalina de alto K e características geoquímicas e isotópicas semelhantes à granitos do tipo I. Razões \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ \'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr IND.i\' e valores de \'épsilon\'Nd negativos evidenciam fontes crustais empobrecidas em elementos incompatíveis. Na fase tardi a pós-colisional da Nappe, no período de 609 a 598 Ma, pulsos finais do magmatismo diorítico deram lugar ao magmatismo que resultou na colocação de diversos corpos de rochas monzodioríticas e monzoníticas, em parte com feições de interação e mistura de magmas e que possuem assinatura geoquímica do tipo A, semelhante às rochas do Plúton Piracaia, pós - colisional. / The Socorro - Guaxupé Nappe represents an ancient magmactic arc formed during the collisional phase of the Southern Brasília Orogen), one of the important Neoproterozoic orogenic events, responsible for the agglutination of the western portion of Gondwana paleo continent. In the southeastern portion of the Socorro Domain, many NE-SW shear zones controlled the intrusion of many bodies and batholiths of potássic calc-alkaline granitoids, generated by sin-orogenic crustal melting of the nappe in a shallow-depth, high-temperature environment, during the metamorphic peak. The orthogneisses and migmatites that crop out in the area are not related to the stromatic pelitic to semi-pelitic migmatites that are predominant in the nappe\'s Metatexitic Unit. So far, these rocks were considerated to be part of the Amparo Complex, which is the basement of the Socorro Granitoid Complex. This work present new geochemical, isotopic and geochronological data for rocks from the region between Extrema and Camanducaia, southern Minas Gerais, which allow the characterization of the magmatism that originated those orthogneisses and its crustal evolution, and also the determination of its age in the Neoproterozoic context of the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe. U-Pb zircon ages obtained from dioritic paleossome of the metatexitic orthogneisses provided ages of 662,1 ± 5,1 My. Sporadic older ages from 770 to 834 My were found only in inherited cores. On dioritic to granodioritic orthogneiss where partial melting processes were not started, zircon crystals from an orthogneiss of dioritic composition provided 660 to 630 My U-Pb ages, implying an active Neoproterozoic magmatism during the pre- to sin-collisional period of the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe, in a static magmatic arc environment for ate least 30 My, which is a condition similar to the present-day Japan\'s magmatic arc occurrence. The magmatism which originated the dioritic to granodioritic orthogneisses has affinities with the high-K calc-alkaline series and geochemical and isotopic characteristics similar to I-Type granites. \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ \'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr IND.i\' rates and negative \'épsilon\'Nd values point to a crustal source depleted in incompatible elements. At the tardi- to post- collisional phase of the nappe, during the period from 609 to 598 My, the last pulses of dioritic magmatism gave place to a monzodioritic and monzonitic magmatism which resulted in the intrusion of many rock bodies with an A-Type geochemical signature similar to the post-collisional Piracaia Pluton, part of which exhibit magma interaction and magma mixing features.

A Nappe Socorro - Guaxupé representa um antigo arco magmático formado durante a fase colisional do Orógeno Brasília Meridional, um dos importantes eventos orogênicos do Neoproterozóico responsáveis pela aglutinação da porção ocidental do paleocontinente Gondwana. Na porção sudeste do Domínio Socorro, muitas das zonas de cisalhamento de direção NE-SW condicionaram a colocação de inúmeros corpos e batólitos de granitóides cálcio - alcalinos potássicos gerados a partir da fusão crustal sin - orogênica da nappe, durante o pico metamórfico em um ambiente de altas temperaturas a baixas profundidades. Na região são encontrados ortognaisses e migmatitos não correlacionáveis aos migmatitos estromáticos pelíticos a semi-pelíticos dominantes da Unidade Metatexítica da Nappe. Até o momento essas rochas eram consideradas parte do Complexo Amparo, como embasamento do Complexo Granitóide Socorro. Este trabalho apresenta dados geoquímicos, isotópicos e geocronológicos inéditos para rochas da região entre Extrema e Camanducaia, sul de Minas Gerais, e que permitiram caracterizar o magmatismo que deu origem a esses ortognaisses e sua evolução crustal, bem como determinar sua idade dentro do contexto Neoproterozóico da Nappe Socorro - Guaxupé. Idades U-Pb obtidas em cristais de zircão do paleossoma diorítico nos ortognaisses metatexíticos forneceram idade de 662,1 ± 5,1 Ma. Idades pontuais mais antigas entre 770 e 834 Ma foram encontradas apenas em núcleos herdados. Em ortognaisses dioríticos a granodioríticos, onde não foram iniciados processos de fusão parcial, idades U-Pb em zircões de um ortognaisse de composição diorítica forneceram idades entre 660 e 630 Ma, implicando em um magmatismo Neoproterozóico atuante ao longo do período pré a sin-colisional da Nappe Socorro Guaxupé, em um ambiente de arco magmático estacionário por pelo menos 30 Ma, situação análoga a que ocorre atualmente no arco magmático do Japão. O magmatismo que deu origem aos ortognaisses dioríticos a granodioríticos possui afinidades com a série cálcio-alcalina de alto K e características geoquímicas e isotópicas semelhantes à granitos do tipo I. Razões \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ \'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr IND.i\' e valores de \'épsilon\'Nd negativos evidenciam fontes crustais empobrecidas em elementos incompatíveis. Na fase tardi a pós-colisional da Nappe, no período de 609 a 598 Ma, pulsos finais do magmatismo diorítico deram lugar ao magmatismo que resultou na colocação de diversos corpos de rochas monzodioríticas e monzoníticas, em parte com feições de interação e mistura de magmas e que possuem assinatura geoquímica do tipo A, semelhante às rochas do Plúton Piracaia, pós - colisional. / The Socorro - Guaxupé Nappe represents an ancient magmactic arc formed during the collisional phase of the Southern Brasília Orogen), one of the important Neoproterozoic orogenic events, responsible for the agglutination of the western portion of Gondwana paleo continent. In the southeastern portion of the Socorro Domain, many NE-SW shear zones controlled the intrusion of many bodies and batholiths of potássic calc-alkaline granitoids, generated by sin-orogenic crustal melting of the nappe in a shallow-depth, high-temperature environment, during the metamorphic peak. The orthogneisses and migmatites that crop out in the area are not related to the stromatic pelitic to semi-pelitic migmatites that are predominant in the nappe\'s Metatexitic Unit. So far, these rocks were considerated to be part of the Amparo Complex, which is the basement of the Socorro Granitoid Complex. This work present new geochemical, isotopic and geochronological data for rocks from the region between Extrema and Camanducaia, southern Minas Gerais, which allow the characterization of the magmatism that originated those orthogneisses and its crustal evolution, and also the determination of its age in the Neoproterozoic context of the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe. U-Pb zircon ages obtained from dioritic paleossome of the metatexitic orthogneisses provided ages of 662,1 ± 5,1 My. Sporadic older ages from 770 to 834 My were found only in inherited cores. On dioritic to granodioritic orthogneiss where partial melting processes were not started, zircon crystals from an orthogneiss of dioritic composition provided 660 to 630 My U-Pb ages, implying an active Neoproterozoic magmatism during the pre- to sin-collisional period of the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe, in a static magmatic arc environment for ate least 30 My, which is a condition similar to the present-day Japan\'s magmatic arc occurrence. The magmatism which originated the dioritic to granodioritic orthogneisses has affinities with the high-K calc-alkaline series and geochemical and isotopic characteristics similar to I-Type granites. \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/ \'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr IND.i\' rates and negative \'épsilon\'Nd values point to a crustal source depleted in incompatible elements. At the tardi- to post- collisional phase of the nappe, during the period from 609 to 598 My, the last pulses of dioritic magmatism gave place to a monzodioritic and monzonitic magmatism which resulted in the intrusion of many rock bodies with an A-Type geochemical signature similar to the post-collisional Piracaia Pluton, part of which exhibit magma interaction and magma mixing features.

O problema de seleção de características, no contexto de Reconhecimento de Padrões, consiste na escolha de um subconjunto X de um conjunto S de características, de tal forma que X seja \"ótimo\" dentro de algum critério. Supondo a escolha de uma função custo c apropriada, o problema de seleção de características é reduzido a um problema de busca que utiliza c para avaliar os subconjuntos de S e assim detectar um subconjunto de características ótimo. Todavia, o problema de seleção de características é NP-difícil. Na literatura existem diversos algoritmos e heurísticas propostos para abordar este problema; porém, quase nenhuma dessas técnicas explora o fato que existem funções custo cujos valores são estimados a partir de uma amostra e que descrevem uma \"curva em U\" nas cadeias do reticulado Booleano (P(S),<=), um fenômeno bem conhecido em Reconhecimento de Padrões: conforme aumenta-se o número de características consideradas, há uma queda no custo do subconjunto avaliado, até o ponto em que a limitação no número de amostras faz com que seguir adicionando características passe a aumentar o custo, devido ao aumento no erro de estimação. Em 2010, Ris e colegas propuseram um novo algoritmo para resolver esse caso particular do problema de seleção de características, que aproveita o fato de que o espaço de busca pode ser organizado como um reticulado Booleano, assim como a estrutura de curvas em U das cadeias do reticulado, para encontrar um subconjunto ótimo. Neste trabalho estudamos a estrutura do problema de minimização de funções custo cujas cadeias são decomponíveis em curvas em U (problema U-curve), provando que o mesmo é NP-difícil. Mostramos que o algoritmo de Ris e colegas possui um erro que o torna de fato sub-ótimo, e propusemos uma versão corrigida e melhorada do mesmo, o algoritmo U-Curve-Search (UCS). Apresentamos também duas variações do algoritmo UCS que controlam o espaço de busca de forma mais sistemática. Introduzimos dois novos algoritmos branch-and-bound para abordar o problema, chamados U-Curve-Branch-and-Bound (UBB) e Poset-Forest-Search (PFS). Para todos os algoritmos apresentados nesta tese, fornecemos análise de complexidade de tempo e, para alguns deles, também prova de corretude. Implementamos todos os algoritmos apresentados utilizando o arcabouço featsel, também desenvolvido neste trabalho; realizamos experimentos ótimos e sub-ótimos com instâncias de dados reais e simulados e analisamos os resultados obtidos. Por fim, propusemos um relaxamento do problema U-curve que modela alguns tipos de projeto de classificadores; também provamos que os algoritmos UCS, UBB e PFS resolvem esta versão generalizada do problema. / The feature selection problem, in the context of Pattern Recognition, consists in the choice of a subset X of a set S of features, such that X is \"optimal\" under some criterion. If we assume the choice of a proper cost function c, then the feature selection problem is reduced to a search problem, which uses c to evaluate the subsets of S, therefore finding an optimal feature subset. However, the feature selection problem is NP-hard. Although there are a myriad of algorithms and heuristics to tackle this problem in the literature, almost none of those techniques explores the fact that there are cost functions whose values are estimated from a sample and describe a \"U-shaped curve\" in the chains of the Boolean lattice o (P(S),<=), a well-known phenomenon in Pattern Recognition: for a fixed number of samples, the increase in the number of considered features may have two consequences: if the available sample is enough to a good estimation, then it should occur a reduction of the estimation error, otherwise, the lack of data induces an increase of the estimation error. In 2010, Ris et al. proposed a new algorithm to solve this particular case of the feature selection problem: their algorithm takes into account the fact that the search space may be organized as a Boolean lattice, as well as that the chains of this lattice describe a U-shaped curve, to find an optimal feature subset. In this work, we studied the structure of the minimization problem of cost functions whose chains are decomposable in U-shaped curves (the U-curve problem), and proved that this problem is actually NP-hard. We showed that the algorithm introduced by Ris et al. has an error that leads to suboptimal solutions, and proposed a corrected and improved version, the U-Curve-Search (UCS) algorithm. Moreover, to manage the search space in a more systematic way, we also presented two modifications of the UCS algorithm. We introduced two new branch-and-bound algorithms to tackle the U-curve problem, namely U-Curve-Branch-and-Bound (UBB) and Poset-Forest-Search (PFS). For each algorithm presented in this thesis, we provided time complexity analysis and, for some of them, also proof of correctness. We implemented each algorithm through the featsel framework, which was also developed in this work; we performed optimal and suboptimal experiments with instances from real and simulated data, and analyzed the results. Finally, we proposed a generalization of the U-curve problem that models some kinds of classifier design; we proved the correctness of the UCS, UBB, and PFS algorithms for this generalized version of the U-curve problem.

Inom dagens byggande i Sverige ställs allt högre krav på den värmeisolerande förmågan hos klimatskärmen i de hus som byggs. Detta ställer i sin tur högre krav på konstruktionerna och medför även ny problematik. Standardlösningar som tidigare fungerat bra byts ut mot nya, ibland obeprövade, lösningar. De hårdare kraven på energi- och fuktdimensionering innebär alltså att vikten av val av stommaterial ökar vid en projektering. Vi har här försökt ge en realistisk bild av hur valet av reglar kan påverka energi och fukttillståndet hos en byggnad med utfackningsväggar, med fokus på reglar i fält. Till undersökningen användes referensobjekt i form av ritningar som tillhandahölls av handledaren på Clarus arkitekter. Med hjälp av dessa gjordes tredimensionella energiberäkningar som visade dels att valet av material kan ha mycket stor betydelse både för energiförluster och fukttillstånd, samt att sambanden inte nödvändigtvis behöver vara enkla. Valet av reglar har mycket varierande betydelse beroende på hur väggen är uppbyggd. Genom en laboration undersöktes skillnaden mellan slitsade och oslitsade ytterväggsreglar för att ge ökad förståelse och verifiera noggrannheten av beräkningarna jämfört med en verklig vägg. Det sista visade sig svårt att uppnå, men det var tydligt att slitsarna hade mycket stor betydelse för temperaturfördelningen i en vägg. / Construction of Swedish buildings today places higher demands on the heat-insulating capacity of the building envelope in the house built. This in turn places higher demands on the structures and also creates new problems. Standard solutions that previously worked well are being replaced by new, sometimes untested, solutions. The tougher demands on energy and moisture design means that the choice of substrate material is of greater importance than before when designing buildings.Here we have tried to give a realistic view of how the choice of studs can affect energy and humidity conditions of a building with curtain walls, focusing on studs in the field. The survey used reference objects projects in the form of drawings provided by the supervisor at Clarus Architects. Using these, three-dimensional calculations were made showing firstly that the choice of material can be of great importance both for the energy and moisture, and secondly, that the relationship is not necessarily simple. The importance of the choice of studs varies depending on how the wall is built. By a laboratory experiment, the correlation between slotted and unslotted outer wall studs was examined to provide greater understanding and verifying the accuracy of the calculations compared to a real wall. The last task proved difficult to achieve, but it was clear that the studs had great significance for the temperature distribution in a wall.

The northeast African continental margin of the Western Desert of Egypt is host to a complexly deformed series of Phanerozoic basins. Substantial sedimentary deposition (~5 km) and basin formation resulted from regional deformation due to continental collision and repeated rifting and inversion cycles. Limited sedimentary exposure and exploration has prevented elucidation of Phanerozoic basin evolution, particularly in the Paleozoic. Previous studies of the region have largely relied upon sedimentary analysis, gravity, and 2D/3D seismic data. This study, in contrast, has employed extensive use of detrital zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology (n=1004) from 17 wells in conjunction with 3D seismic, well log correlation, and heat flow data to elucidate a spatiotemporally comprehensive tectonic and stratigraphic model. The detrital zircon thermochronometric data provides new evidence that the lower Paleozoic, Carboniferous, and Mesozoic stratigraphic sequences of the Western Desert represent thermally distinct, tectonically controlled sequences with independent thermal evolutions. The lower Paleozoic sequence has been partially thermally reset, reaching temperatures of ~140-170 ̊C. Partial resetting is noted throughout the region and reached its thermal maximum in the Permo-Triassic, synchronous with onset of Neotethyan rifting. The Carboniferous sequence has not been thermally reset, with exposure to temperatures no greater than ~140 ̊C and reaching thermal maximum presently. Carboniferous (U-Th)/He ages have dominant input from short-lag-time zircons (exhumation to deposition) and indicate the stratigraphic sequence was proximally sourced. The proximal sourcing is likely from transmitted stress and fault reactivation in Egypt during the Hercynian Orogeny that caused fault block exhumation and erosional unroofing. Sediment was shed from uplifted fault blocks that formed the eastern boundary of the Carboniferous sequence. The Mesozoic sequence has not been thermally reset, reaching temperatures no greater than ~120 ̊C and presently reaching thermal maximum. Localized areas with stacking of lower Paleozoic, Carboniferous, and Mesozoic sequences likely bury the lower Paleozoic to abnormally deep depths (~7 km) and elevated temperatures of ~200 ̊C. Evidence from faulting relationships, basin controlling structures, and heat flow data indicate that N-S trending basement structures may define a region of crustal transition between the Archean-Paleoproterozoic Saharan Metacraton and the juvenile Arabian-Nubian Shield. / text

An experimental study was conducted at the Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory in order to investigate the shear behavior of 54-inch deep prestressed concrete U-beams. The primary goal of this research was to improve the design and detailing of the skewed end-blocks commonly used in these beams. As U-beams had been in service for several decades without incident, it was anticipated that there would be little need for change in the design, and the findings of the research would involve a slight tweaking to improve the overall performance. Unfortunately, during the first phase of shear testing (testing of the current design standard) it was found that the U-beam was not reaching the code calculated shear capacity. During this phase of testing the premature failure mechanism was isolated as the breakdown of the web-to-flange interface in the end region of the girder. Therefore, the second phase of testing sought to prevent the breakdown of this boundary by three options: (1) increasing the web width while maintaining current levels of mild reinforcement, (2) increasing the web width while also increasing the amount of reinforcement crossing the web-to-flange boundary, or (3) by increasing the amount of reinforcement at the boundary while maintaining the current web width. Two acceptable solutions to the premature failure method were developed and tested during this phase both of which included an increase in the amount of mild reinforcement crossing the web-to-flange interface (with and without an increase in web width). The research into refining of these new details is ongoing as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Research Project number 0-5831. / text

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1915. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1915. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

This dissertation examines the relationship between space and identity in the city of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. The work explores the shifting interface between various types of spaces within the city, focusing on three major areas: dominant state space, Han Chinese space and Turkic Muslim space. Central to my argument is that that the dominant form of spatial identity arises through the process ofrepetition. From the city's establishment in the Qing dynasty up until present, there has been a sustained tendency to self-consciously reproduce an urban spatial template deployed throughout cities within inner China. At the same, time each new regime, be it imperial or modernizing, deploys a different series of repetition to the one which precedes it. The current work traces the trajectory of some of these forms as they evolve over space and time. In doing so, it describes how the political incorporation of Xinjiang into China functions at the level of the city over an extended period of time. Urumqi has, from its inception, attracted migrants in large numbers from various parts of inner China and Xinjiang itself, and thus the city's neighbourhoods have simultaneously produced a number of spatial and territorial differences within this larger framework of repetition. With a focus on Han and Turkic Uyghur communities, the dissertation also describes the parallel trajectory of these spatial differences in relation to those of the state. I portray a general situation in which Han communities have become more incorporated into the dominant spatial mode and Uyghurs less so. This observation is fleshed out in greater detail in the chapters which deal with contemporary city. Despite a multiplicity of urban forms, I argue that the difference inherent in Uyghur spatial practices is increasingly designated and reified by the state, on its behalf. Through a detailed description of this "inauthentic" and coercive expression of difference, I trace how the Uyghur neighbourhoods have become increasingly subject to what Carl Schmitt ([1922] 2004) refers to as "the state of exception". This shift in the spatial dynamics of the city serves as significant pre-cursor to the Urumiq Riots of 2009. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of ethnographic methodologies and their relation to time. The influence of the past upon the present, coupled with the highly transient nature of present spatial organization within Chinese cities, necessitates a type of ethnography which is sensitive to the processual nature of space and place. Drawing on Bergson's concept of duration ([1896] 1911 ), I argue for an ethnographic methodology which takes into account the persistence of the past in descriptions of the present.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-13T17:08:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaKRR_DISSERT.pdf: 4196464 bytes, checksum: 4f6f5f4931b1a57e1e1de151cbd47238 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-25 / Estuaries are coastal environments ephemeral life in geological time, derived from the drowning of the shoreline as a function of elevation relative sea level. Such parallel systems is characterized by having two sources of sediment, the river and the sea. The study area comprises the Acu River estuary, located on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte State, in a region of intense economic activity, mainly focused on the exploration of oil onshore and offshore, likely to accidental spills. In the oil sector are developed for salt production, shrimp farming, agriculture, fisheries and tourism, which by interacting with sensitive ecosystems, such as estuaries, may alter the natural conditions, thus making it an area susceptible to contamination is essential in understanding the morphodynamic variables that occur in this environment to obtain an environmental license. Information about the submarine relief the estuaries are of great importance for the planning of the activity of environmental monitoring, development and coastal systems, among others, allowing an easy management of risk areas, and assist in the creation of thematic maps of the main aspects of landscape. Morphodynamic studies were performed in this estuary in different seasonal periods in 2009 to observe and quantify morphological changes that have occurred and relate these to the hydrodynamic forcing from the river and its interaction with the tides. Thus, efforts in this area is possible to know the bottom morphology through records of good quality equipment acquired by high resolution geophysical (side-scan sonar and profiler current by doppler effect). The combination of these data enabled the identification of different forms of bed for the winter and summer that were framed in a lower flow regime and later may have been destroyed or modified forms of generating fund scheme than the number according Froude, with different characteristics due mainly to the variation of the depth and type of sedimentary material they are made, and other hydrodynamic parameters. Thus, these features background regions are printed in the channel, sandy banks and muddy plains that border the entire area / Estu?rios s?o ambientes costeiros de vida ef?mera no tempo geol?gico, derivados do afogamento da linha de costa em fun??o da eleva??o relativa do n?vel do mar. Tal sistema par?lico se caracteriza por ter duas fontes de sedimentos, a fluvial e a marinha. A ?rea em estudo compreende o Estu?rio do rio A?u, localizado no litoral setentrional do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, que se encontra em uma regi?o de intensa atividade econ?mica, principalmente voltada ?s atividades de explora??o de petr?leo onshore e offshore, pass?veis de derrames acidentais. Al?m da atividade petrol?fera s?o desenvolvidas produ??o de sal marinho, carcinicultura, agricultura, pesca e turismo, que ao interagir com ecossistemas sens?veis, como no caso dos estu?rios, podem modificar as condi??es naturais, tornando assim uma ?rea suscept?vel a contamina??es sendo essencial o entendimento das vari?veis morfodin?micas que ocorrem nesse ambiente para obten??o de licenciamento ambiental. Informa??es a respeito do relevo submarino dos estu?rios s?o de grande import?ncia para o planejamento da atividade de monitoramento ambiental, evolu??o e din?mica costeira, entre outros, possibilitando num f?cil gerenciamento de ?reas de risco, al?m de ajudar na cria??o de mapas tem?ticos dos principais aspectos da paisagem. Estudos morfodin?micos foram realizados neste estu?rio em diferentes per?odos sazonais no ano de 2009 a fim de observar e quantificar as mudan?as morfol?gicas ocorridas e correlacion?-las com as for?antes hidrodin?micas proveniente da a??o fluvial, bem como sua intera??o com as mar?s. Desta forma, os trabalhos realizados nesta ?rea possibilitaram o conhecimento da morfologia de fundo atrav?s de registros de boa qualidade adquiridos por equipamentos geof?sicos de alta resolu??o (sonar de varredura lateral e perfilador de corrente por efeito doppler). A jun??o destes dados possibilitou a identifica??o de diferentes tipos de formas de leito para o per?odo de inverno e ver?o que antes eram enquadradas em um regime de fluxo inferior e que posteriormente podem ter sido destru?das ou modificadas gerando formas de fundo de regime superior segundo o n?mero de Froude, com caracter?sticas diferenciadas devido principalmente ? varia??o da profundidade e ao tipo de material sedimentar que s?o constitu?dos, al?m de outros par?metros hidrodin?micos. Desta forma, estas fei??es de fundo est?o impressas em regi?es de canal, bancos arenosos e plan?cies lamosas que margeiam toda ?rea