[pt] Solos residuais são geralmente pobres em nutrientes. Isto prejudica a aplicação da atenuação natural monitorada em sítios contaminados com compostos orgânicos no Brasil. Para que o processo de biodegradação obtenha sucesso torna-se necessário à adição de nutrientes inorgânicos essenciais, como o fosfato e o nitrato, na massa de solo. Contudo, este processo deve ser estritamente controlado buscando atingir o equilíbrio de carbono:nitrogênio -C/N- mais favorável. Em solos com baixa condutividade hidráulica a adição de compostos inorgânicos na amostra de solo pode ser alcançada através da eletrocinese. O programa experimental desenvolvido neste trabalho objetivou avaliar a viabilidade do transporte de nitrato de amônio em um solo residual maduro do Município de Duque de Caxias através da eletrocinese. O programa também buscou acessar a variação na microbiota em decorrência da exposição prolongada de um campo elétrico. Os resultados obtidos no programa experimental revelaram que o nitrato de amônio pode ser transportado facilmente através de solos residuais. Também foi observado que houve um aumento de uma ordem de magnitude na população microbiana dentro da amostra de solo após a aplicação do potencial elétrico. Resultados preliminares indicaram que a eletrocinese pode ser uma alternativa para estimular a biorremediação de contaminantes orgânicos em solos residuais. / [en] Residual soils are generally poor in nutrients. This minimizes potential application of monitored natural attenuation of sites contaminated with organic compounds in Brazil. In order to allow the biodegradation process it is necessary to add essential inorganic nutrients, such as phosphate and nitrate. However this process must be strictly controlled in order to attain the most favorable C/N balance. In soils with low hydraulic conductivity the addition of inorganic compounds through the soil mass could well be achieved by electrokinetics. An experimental programme was carried out on mature residual soil samples from Duque de Caxias aiming on assessing the feasibility of ammonium nitrate transport via electrokinetics. The programme also evaluated the change in microbiota due the prolonged exposure to an electrical field. Results have shown that ammonium nitrate can be easily transported through residual soils. It was also observed one-order magnitude microbial population increase within the soil mass after the application of DC current. Preliminary results indicated that electrokinetics could well be used to enhance bioremediation of organic contaminants in residual soils.

Coastal water quality is intricately linked to environmental factors, particularly meteorological and hydrological conditions. Weather conditions determine wind speed and direction, which in turn influence coastal currents, and these currents play a critical role in the transport and variability of water quality parameters. Understanding how these dynamic interactions impact water quality is essential for the effective management and preservation of coastal ecosystems. This dissertation investigates the effects of varying flow conditions on key water quality parameters in the Louisiana Continental Shelf, utilizing data from two research cruises. The study specifically focuses on how concentration variability and transport mechanisms of water quality indicators respond to different environmental conditions, including the passage of cold fronts and periods of non-frontal conditions. In this research, data were collected using a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) system and through the analysis of water samples to assess changes in nutrient concentrations, dissolved oxygen levels, chlorophyll-a, and Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM). These samples were collected under two distinct environmental conditions: following a cold front and during non-frontal conditions. Analytical methods were used to quantify the water quality parameters, while hydrodynamic modeling was applied to assess the transport and dispersion patterns of these indicators. The results show that cold fronts increase nutrient concentrations and decrease dissolved oxygen levels due to enhanced mixing and upwelling. The cold front activity also promotes southwestward transport of water quality parameters, driven by the region's hydrodynamic forces. Under stable weather conditions, nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations increase, but transport is limited, with reduced dispersion resulting from weaker hydrodynamic forces. CDOM component analysis revealed that cold front conditions lower CDOM concentrations and improve light penetration, while non-frontal conditions elevate CDOM concentrations, reducing light penetration and impacting aquatic ecosystem productivity. These findings enhance our understanding of how meteorological events, hydrological conditions, and water quality interact in coastal regions. The research demonstrates how weather conditions distinctly influence nutrient dynamics and CDOM behavior. These insights are crucial for developing effective water quality management strategies for the Louisiana Continental Shelf and similar coastal regions worldwide, supporting global efforts to mitigate challenges posed by climate change and human activity in coastal ecosystems.