This thesis examines how the growth, interaction and linkage of normal faults, and the broader structural styles within rift basins, provide first-order controls upon syn-rift sediment routing and the development of coeval syn-rift stratigraphy. To achieve this, this thesis integrates observations from an area of active extension, alongside the stratigraphic record of an ancient rift basin. The former allows greater insight into sediment erosion, transport and preservation processes during rifting, whereas the latter represents the net depositional history, hence permitting a reconstruction of rift tectono-stratigraphic evolution. Recent advances in the understanding of landscape response to active faulting, have focused predominantly on large-scale rift provinces or where fault segments are widely-spaced across-strike (~15-30 km). As such, the neotectonic portion of this study integrates field and digitial terrain analysis to examine the geomorphic response to active faulting across the Perachora Peninsula (Gulf of Corinth, Central Greece), an uplifting, faulted-terrace setting. Here, the across-strike fault-spacing is small (~2-3 km), allowing fault segments to interact across-strike, and landscape evolution to be driven by a complex configuration of perched, intermittent and marine base-levels. These base-levels have a propensity to switch, with implications for sediment-routing and hanging-wall stratigraphic development. The preservation potential of sub-aerial syn-rift landscapes and basin-fill is extremely low in settings such as Perachora, due to the aggressive headward cannibalisation driven by ongoing tectonic uplift and short downstream distances to terminal base level. The subsurface stratigraphic study examines the Triassic-Jurassic syn-rift stratigraphy of the Danish Central Graben, an area displaying lateral variability in the original thickness and mobility of Late Permian Zechstein evaporites along-strike of the bounding Coffee-Soil Fault System. This setting enables a direct comparison between evaporite-influenced and non- evaporite-influenced rifting at a range of scales. By integrating observations of variability in structural style, with a systematic seismic-stratigraphic analysis of the syn-rift interval, the study documents how interactions between normal fault evolution and mobile evaporites influence: i) the variability in rift basin structural style; ii) the development of stratal geometries; and iii) the nature and location of depositional systems. On a basin-wide scale, the evaporite-influenced rift portions display more prominent fault-related and evaporite-related folding, which in turn controls syn-rift deposition, along with variable degrees of decoupling of basement and cover fault and fold systems. Focusing on the evaporite-influenced Coffee-Soil Fault System, variations in the locations and rates of accommodation generated by both load-driven withdrawal of evaporites up the hanging-wall dip-slope, and fault-related subsidence, provide a critical, and hitherto neglected control upon dip- and strike-oriented variability in hanging-wall stratigraphic architecture. Conceptual models for the development of hanging-wall stratigraphy, incorporating the influence of sediment supply rates upon load-induced evaporite mobilisation, provide a framework which may be used in the analysis of evaporite-influenced border fault systems worldwide. Overall, the findings of this thesis have implications for understanding the controls on spatial and temporal variability in structural style, sediment routing and syn-rift stratigraphic evolution in rift basins. In particular, the study highlights that to determine a deeper understanding of the interactions which determine the evolution of syn-rift stratigraphy, it is essential to examine basin processes in both modern and ancient rift settings, as well as at a range of scales.

This study of alluvial aquifer basins in southern California is centered on observations of differential surface displacement and the search for the mechanisms of deformation. The San Bernardino basin and the Upper Coachella Valley aquifers are bound by range fronts and fault segments of the southern San Andreas fault system. I have worked to quantify long-term compaction in these groundwater dependent population centers with a unique synthesis of data and methodologies using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and groundwater data. My dissertation contributes to the understanding of alluvial aquifer heterogeneity and partitioning. I model hydrogeologic and tectonic interpretations of deformation where decades of overdraft conditions and ongoing aquifer development contribute to extreme rapid subsidence. I develop the Hydrogeologic InSAR Integration (HII) method for the characterization of surface deformation in aquifer basins. The method allows for the separation of superimposed hydraulic and/or tectonic processes in operation. This formalization of InSAR and groundwater level integration provides opportunities for application in other aquifer basins where overdraft conditions may be causing permanent loss of aquifer storage capacity through compaction. Sixteen years of SAR data for the Upper Coachella Valley exhibit rapid vertical surface displacement (#8804; 48mm/a) in sharply bound areas of the western basin margin. Using well driller logs, I categorize a generalized facies analysis of the western basin margin, describing heterogeneity of the aquifer. This allowed for assessment of the relationships between observed surface deformation and sub-surface material properties. Providing the setting and context for the hydrogeologic evolution of California's primary aquifers, the mature San Andreas transform fault is studied extensively by a broad range of geoscientists. I present a compilation of observations of creep, line integrals across the Pacific-North America Plate Boundary, and strain tensor volumes for comparison to the Working Group 2007 (UCERF 2) seismicity-based deformation model. I find that the moment accumulation across the plate boundary is consistent with the deformation model, suggesting fault displacement observations within the plate boundary zone accurately capture the strain across the plate boundary. This dissertation includes co-authored materials previously published, and also includes unpublished work currently under revisions for submission to a technical journal.

PINHEIRO, Rosângela Maria Paixão. Sub-bacias hidrográficas do Alto Jaguaribe (Tauá-CE): vulnerabilidades ante a incidência de degradação / desertificação. 2003. 193 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Programa Regional em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Fortaleza-CE, 2003 / Submitted by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-04-19T13:37:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2003_dis_rmppinheiro.pdf: 8417812 bytes, checksum: 00dd8745abc0721661e345ea4e0d9993 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-04-19T13:44:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2003_dis_rmppinheiro.pdf: 8417812 bytes, checksum: 00dd8745abc0721661e345ea4e0d9993 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-19T13:44:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2003_dis_rmppinheiro.pdf: 8417812 bytes, checksum: 00dd8745abc0721661e345ea4e0d9993 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Since the origins of civilization, natural elements of river basins – water, soil, vegetation, among others – are used in human activities to meet man’s needs. Among them, water is such an important resource that its shortage can influence the development of a region and can cause socioeconomic problems, a problem existing in the semi-arid area of Brazil. The area of the present study – a high valley of Jaguaribe river basin – has a seasonal water unavailability caused by the low annual rainfall rates (550– 650 mm/year), high temperatures (25oC to 28oC) great evaporation rates (119 to 307 mm), which produce a water deficit. This area is also characterized by a the limited potential of other natural resources, among them - shallow soils (Lithic Nessolos, Luvissolos and Neossolos Flúvios) and complex open vegetable formation open (caatinga), which in drought periods are intensified. As a result, the population is subjected to the situation of socioeconomic poverty and environmental vulnerability, producing a susceptibility to desertification. In this context, the present work aims to develop a geoenvironmental analysis in sub river basins in Tauá Town, Ceará State, Brazil by characterizing and classifying those basins according to hydrodynamic conditions, expressing vulnerability scenarios in order to enable the sustainability of its natural resources. The methodology consisted of integrating the quantitative analysis of the drainage net with the qualitative approach in systemic perspective about the physical-environmental and socioeconomic components. We applied parameters and concepts based on HORTON (1945), STRAHLER (1952, among others mentioned by CHRISTOFOLETTI (1980);BERTALANFY (1932), BERTRAND (1972); cartographic bases of SUDENE/ASMIC (1967), SUDENE (1973) and WAVES (2001). In the results obtained concerning the hydrodynamic characteristics, the sub-basins of the brooks Carrapateiras and Catumbi presented more complex hierarchies (4th order), than the sub-basins of the brooks Cipó and Trici (3rd order). The analyses of the morphometric indexes enhances the characterization of the sub-basins in relation to the larger or smaller predisposition to erosion processes and other hydrological dynamics. Therefore, the parameters of shape index (Ff, Kc and “C”), made the author classify all the sub-basins with an irregular shape, favoring the proper time for formation of runoff. This dynamics was also expressed by the “Cmc” and “Eps” indexes – average length of canals and runoff. The first one evidenced in almost all the sub-basins, except for Catumbi, the search for the proper adjustment of the canals, through which the largest average length is to the canals of 1st order, with reduction of the average course for highest orders. In the second index, the sub-basins of Catumbi and Cipó – 0.86 km and 0.81 km respectively – presented indicators more pronounced to the erosion processes than the subbasins of Carrapateiras and Trici, with 0.78 km and 0.76 km, respectively. In the river and drainage densities – “Dr” “Dd” – the results for Cipó, Carrapateiras, Trici and Catumbi brooks, for each index, respectively, were: 0.1 c/km, 0.08 c/km, 0.14 c/km, 0.21 c/km and 0.61km/km2, 0.64 km/km2, 0.65 km/km2, 0.58 km/km2; indicating low frequency of canals and the low pattern of drainage per pattern area, representing a balance between runoff and infiltration. This dynamics was also analyzed in the set composed of average slope roughness coefficient – “D” “Rg” – which in the sub-basins of Carrapateiras and Trici expressed a better balance by the results – 8.09%, 5.10% and 5.17%; 3.31 for each index respectively; concerning the sub-basins of Catumbi and Cipó, respectively, with, 3.96%, 4.20% and 2.29%; 2.56%. The socio-environmental analysis evidenced unharmonious relationships, established in the areas covered by the sub river basins because of the economic structure and through soil use during approximately five (5) centuries of exploitation of natural resources. In the division of the river sub basins in geoenvironmental units and sub-units, there was a predominance, with relation to the smallest and largest geoenvironmental variation, respectively, of the sub-basins of Cipó brook (3 units and 5 sub-units) and Carrapateiras (5 units and 18 sub-units), and that also emphasize the more pronounced natural vulnerabilities. While the sub-basins of the brooks Trici and Catumbi (both with 4 units and 12 sub-units) stood out through the conditions of greater interaction and preservation of the physical-environmental components, resulting in lower natural vulnerabilities. In almost all of the sub-basins, we identified the relative occupation by the unit Z3 - areas partially dissected, except for the brook Catumbi, which is relatively occupied by the unit Z2 - flat to dissected areas. Evidencing that, as the geologicalgeomorphological time goes by, the sub-basins go through intense denudation process. The analyses conducted allowed the author to classify the river sub-basins into the following categories: high environmental vulnerability for Cipó brook; medium to high environmental vulnerability for Carrapateiras brook; medium environmental vulnerability for Trici brook, and medium to low environmental vulnerability for Catumbi brook. Therefore, we conclude that the environmental conditions in the river sub-basins express a group of phenomena with strong antagonism, between the hydrodynamic and physical-environmental balance for the semi-arid area, with the socioeconomic dynamics of the exploitation of natural resources. They are revealed through strong negative environmental changes, resulting in phenomena that stimulate the natural environmental vulnerabilities, and that are related to the degradation/desertification in the river sub-basins in the high Jaguaribe river in Tauá town, CE. / Desde os primórdios da civilização elementos naturais em bacias hidrográficas – água, solo, vegetação, entre outros – são utilizados em práticas humanas, suprindo suas necessidades. Entre estes, a água é um recurso tão importante, que sua escassez, pode influenciar o desenvolvimento de uma região e refletir-se em problemas sócio-econômicos, problemática presente na Região Semiárida do Brasil. A área do presente estudo, alto vale da bacia hidrográfica do Jaguaribe, convive sazonalmente com a indisponibilidade de água - decorrente dos baixos índices anuais de pluviometria (650 a 550 mm/a), e elevados índices de temperatura (250C a 280C) e evaporação (119 a 307 mm), que levam a déficits hídrico. Caracteriza-se também pela potencialidade limitada de outros recursos naturais, entre eles – solos rasos (Nessolos Líticos, Luvissolos e Neossolos Flúvios) e formação vegetal complexa aberta (caatinga), que em períodos de seca são intensificadas. Ficando, então, a população condicionada ao quadro de pobreza sócio-econômica e de vulnerabilidade ambiental, refletidos em suscetibilidade à desertificação. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho objetiva desenvolver análise geoambiental em sub-bacias hidrográficas no município de Tauá – CE; caracterizando e classificando-as diante das condições hidrodinâmicas, expressando cenários de vulnerabilidades, a fim de subsidiar a busca da sustentabilidade dos seus recursos naturais. A metodologia correspondeu a integração da análise quantitativa sobre a rede de drenagem, com abordagem qualitativa em perspectiva sistêmicas sobre as componentes físico-ambientais e sócioeconômicas. Foram aplicados parâmetros e concepções baseadas em HORTON (1945), STRAHLER (1952), entre outros citados por CHRISTOFOLETTI (1980); BERTALANFY (1932), BERTRAND (1972); bases cartográficas da SUDENE/ASMIC (1967), SUDENE (1973) e WAVES (2001). Nos resultados obtidos quanto as características hidrodinâmicas, as sub-bacias dos riachos Carrapateiras e Catumbi apresentaram hierarquias mais complexas (4a ordem), que as sub-bacias Cipó e Trici (3a ordem). As análises dos índices morfométricos potencializaram a caracterização das sub-bacias, quanto a maior ou menor pré-disposição aos processos erosivos e outras dinâmicas hidrológicas. Assim os parâmetros de índice de forma (Ff, Kc e “C”), levaram a autora a classificar, todas as sub-bacias com forma irregular; favorecendo o tempo adequado para formação do deflúvio. Dinâmica refletida também pelos índices “Cmc” e “Eps” – comprimento médio dos canais e escoamento superficial. O primeiro evidenciou em quase todas as sub-bacias, exceto Catumbi, a busca ao ajuste apropriado dos canais; através do qual, o comprimento médio maior está para os canis de 1a ordem, com redução do percurso médio para as ordens superiores. No segundo índice, as sub-bacias Catumbi e Cipó - 0,86 km e 0,81 km respectivamente – apresentaram indicativos mais acentuados aos processos erosivos, que as sub-bacias Carrapateiras e Trici, com 0,78 km e 0,76 km, respectivamente. Nas densidades de rios e de drenagem – “Dr” e “Dd” – os resultados para Cipó, Carrapateiras, Trici e Catumbi, em cada índice respectivamente foram: 0,1 c/km, 0,08 c/km, 0,14 c/km, 0,21 c/km e 0,61km/km2, 0,64 km/km2, 0,65 km/km2, 0,58 km/km2; indicando baixa freqüência de canais e baixo padrão de drenagem por área padrão, representando equilíbrio entre o escoamento superficial – infiltração. Dinâmica também analisada no conjunto declividade média e coeficiente de rugosidade -“D” e “Rg” – que nas sub-bacias Carrapateiras e Trici expressaram melhor equilíbrio, através dos resultados – 8,09%, 5,10% e 5,17; 3,31 para cada índice respectivamente; em relação as sub-bacias Catumbi e Cipó, respectivamente com, 3,96%, 4,20% e 2,29; 2,56. A análise sócio-ambiental evidenciou relações desarmônicas, estabelecidas nas áreas de abrangência das sub-bacias hidrográficas, pela estrutura econômica e modo de uso e ocupação do solo, ao longo de aproximadamente cinco (5) séculos de exploração dos recursos naturais. Na compartimentação das sub-bacias hidrográficas em unidades e sub-unidades geoambientais, resultou em destaque, quanto a menor e maior variação geoambiental respectivamente, para as sub-bacias Cipó (3 unidades e 5 sub-unidades) e Carrapateiras (5 unidades e 18 sub-unidades), e que também realçam as vulnerabilidades naturais mais acentuadas. Enquanto as sub-bacias dos riachos Trici e Catumbi (ambas com 4 unidades e 12 sub-unidades), destacaram-se pelas condições de maior interação e preservação das componentes físico-ambientais, refletindo em vulnerabilidades naturais menos intensas. Em quase todas as sub-bacias identificou-se a ocupação relativa pela unidade Z3 – áreas parcialmente dissecadas, exceto no riacho Catumbi, que está ocupada relativamente pela unidade Z2 – áreas aplainadas a pouco dissecadas. Evidenciando que ao longo do tempo geológico-geomorfológico, as sub-bacias são alvos de intensos processos de desnudação. As análises realizadas levaram a autora, a classificação das sub-bacias hidrográficas nas seguintes categorias: alta vulnerabilidade ambiental para Cipó; Média/alta vulnerabilidade ambiental em Carrapateiras; Média/média vulnerabilidade ambiental para Trici, e Média/baixa vulnerabilidade ambiental em Catumbi. Em face do exposto, conclui-se que as condições ambientais nas sub-bacias hidrográficas refletem um conjunto de fenômenos com forte antagonismo, entre o equilíbrio hidrodinâmico e físico-ambiental para a Região Semi-árida, com as dinâmicas sócio-econômicas de exploração dos recursos naturais. Revelando-se em intensas alterações ambientais negativas, decorrendo em fenômenos que aguçam as vulnerabilidades ambientais naturais, e que estão associados à degradação / desertificação nas sub-bacias hidrográficas no alto Jaguaribe no município de Tauá-CE.

Este trabalho avaliou o potencial da aplicação da técnica recursiva dos mínimos quadrados (MQR) para o ajuste em tempo atual dos parâmetros de modelos autorregressivos com variáveis exógenas (ARX), as quais são constituídas pelos níveis de montante para melhorar o desempenho das previsões de níveis fluviais em tempo atual. Três aspectos foram estudados em conjunto: variação do alcance escolhido para a previsão, variação da proporção da área controlada em bacias a montante e variação da área da bacia da seção de previsão. A pesquisa foi realizada em três dimensões principais: a) metodológica (sem recursividade; com recursividade; com recursividade e fator de esquecimento); b) temporal (6 alcances diferentes: 10, 24, 34, 48, 58 e 72 horas); e c) espacial (variação da área controlada da bacia e da área da bacia definida pela seção de previsão). A área de estudo escolhida para essa pesquisa foi a bacia do rio Uruguai com exutório no posto fluviométrico de Uruguaiana (190.000 km²) e as suas sub-bacias embutidas de Itaqui (131.000 km²), Passo São Borja (125.000km²), Garruchos (116.000 km²), Porto Lucena (95.200 km²), Alto Uruguai (82.300 km²) e Iraí (61.900 km²). Os dados de níveis fluviométricos, com leituras diárias às 07:00 e às 17:00 horas, foram fornecidos pela Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais (CPRM), sendo utilizados os dados de 1/1/1991 a 30/6/2015. Para a análise de desempenho dos modelos, foi aplicado como estatística de qualidade o coeficiente de Nash-Sutcliffe (NS) e o quantil 0,95 dos erros absolutos (EA(0,95): erro que não foi ultrapassado com a frequência de 0,95). Observou-se que os erros EA(0,95) dos melhores modelos obtidos para cada bacia sempre aumentam com a redução da área controlada, ou seja, a qualidade das previsões diminui com o deslocamento da seção de controle de jusante para montante. O ganho na qualidade das previsões com a utilização dos recursos adaptativos torna-se mais evidente, especialmente quando observam-se os valores de EA(0,95), pois esta estatística é mais sensível, com diferenças maiores em relação ao coeficiente NS. Além disso, este é mais representativo para os erros maiores, que ocorrem justamente durante os eventos de inundações. De modo geral, foi observado que, à medida que diminui a área da bacia, é possível obter previsões com alcances cada vez menores. Porém a influência do tamanho da área controlada de bacias a montante melhora o desempenho de bacias menores quando se observam principalmente os erros EA(0,95). Por outro lado, se a proporção da bacia controlada de montante já é bastante grande, como é o caso das alternativas 1 e 2 utilizadas para previsão em Itaqui (entre 88,5% e 95,4 %, respectivamente), os recursos adaptativos não fazem muita diferença na obtenção de melhores resultados. Todavia, quando se observam bacias com menores áreas de montante controladas, como é o caso de Porto Lucena para a alternativa 2 (65% de área controlada), o ganho no desempenho dos modelos com a utilização dos recursos adaptativos completos (MQR+f.e: mínimos quadrados recursivos com fator de esquecimento) torna-se relevante. / This study evaluated the potential of the application of the recursive least squares technique (RLS) to adjust in real time the model parameters of the autoregressive models with exogenous variables (ARX), which consists of the upstream levels, to improve the performance of the forecasts of river levels in real time. Three aspects were studied jointly: the variation of the lead time chosen for the forecast, the variation in the proportion of controlled area in upstream basins and variation in the area of forecasting section of the basin. The research was conducted in three main dimensions: a) methodological (without recursion; with recursion; with recursion and forgetting factor); b) temporal (6 different lead times: 10, 24, 34, 48, 58 and 72 hours); and c) spatial (variation in the controlled area of the basin and the area of the basin defined by the forecast section). The study area chosen for this research was the Uruguay River basin with its outflow at the river gage station of Uruguaiana (190,000 km²) and its entrenched sub-basins in Itaqui (131,000 km²), Passo São Borja (125,000 km²), Garruchos (116,000 km²), Porto Lucena (95,200 km²), Alto Uruguai (82,300 km²), and Iraí (61,900 km²). The river levels data, with daily readings at 7am and 5pm, were provided by the Company of Mineral Resources Research (CPRM), with the data used from January 1, 1991 to June 30, 2015. We applied the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NS) and the quantile 0.95 of absolute errors (EA(0,95): error has not been exceeded at the rate of 0.95) for the analysis of models performances. We observed that the errors EA(0.95) of the best models obtained for each basin always increase with the reduction of the controlled area then the quality of the forecasts decreases with displacement of the downstream control section upstream. The gain in quality of the forecasts with the use of adaptive resources becomes more evident especially when the observed values of EA(0.95) as this statistic is more sensitive with greater differences in relation to the Nash-Sutcliffe Coefficient (NS). Moreover, this is most representative for larger errors which occur precisely during flooding events. In general, we observed that, as much as the area of the basin decreases, it is possible to obtain forecasts with smaller lead times, but the influence of the size of the area controlled upstream basins improves the performance of smaller basins when observing, especially the errors EA (0.95). However, if the proportion of the upstream of controlled basin is already quite large - as in the case of the alternatives 1 and 2 used for forecast in Itaqui (between 88.5% and 95.4%, respectively) - the adaptive resources do not differ too much in getting better results. However, when observing basins with smaller areas controlled upstream - as is the case of Porto Lucena to alternative 2 (65% controlled area) - the performance gain of the models with the use of the complete adaptive resources (MQR+f.e.) becomes relevant.

A passagem de um padrão monsoonal para um padrão de circulação atmosférica zonal ocorreu durante o Cretáceo devido à fragmentação do Supercontinente Gonduana. Essa mudança na direção dos paleoventos é registrada no mergulho de estratos cruzados de dunas eólicas acumuladas em várias bacias de Gonduana. Três mapas de reconstrução de paleoventos foram construídos com a integração de dados paleocorrentes compilados de bacias Fanerozoicas brasileiras, Bacia de Neuquén na Argentina e bacias do Congo e Huab na África. O Gonduana foi dominado por ventos do nordeste ao norte e ventos do sudoeste ao sul, deslocando, assim, a Zona de Convergência Intertropical para 15º a 20 sul do equador durante o Jurássico Tardio até o início do Cretáceo. Por sua vez, os ventos apresentaram uma tendência geral para o oeste-noroeste em latitudes baixas e médias no Gonduana no final do Cretáceo Inical. Esses resultados apontam para a existência de um padrão monsoonal durante o Jurássico Tardio até o início do Cretáceo Inicial e a entrada do padrão zonal no final do Cretáceo Inicial, associado à fragmentação de Gonduana. / The passage of a monsoonal pattern to a zonal atmospheric circulation pattern occurred during the Cretaceous due to fragmentation of Gondwana Supercontinent. This change in the paleowind direction is recorded in crossstrata dip directions of eolian dunes accumulated in various basins of Gondwana. Three maps of paleowind reconstruction were built with integration of compiled paleocurrent data from Phanerozoic basins in Brazil, Neuquén Basin in Argentina and Congo Basin and Huab Basin in Africa. Gondwana was dominated by northeast winds to the north and southwest winds to the south, thus shifting the Intertropical Convergence Zone to 15º to 20⁰ south of the equator during Late Jurassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. In turn, winds had a general tendency towards west-northwest at low and mid-latitudes in Gondwana at the end of Early Cretaceous. These results point to the existence of a monsoonal pattern during the Late Jurassic to the beginning of Early Cretaceous and the entry of zonal pattern at the end of Early Cretaceous, associated with fragmentation of Gondwana.

Natural gas hydrates store a substantial portion of the Earth's organic carbon, although their occurrence is restricted by thermobaric boundaries and the availability of methane-rich fluids. The complexity of geological systems and the multiphase flow processes promoting hydrate formation can result in a mismatch between the predicted and the observed hydrate distribution. The purpose of this research is to achieve a better comprehension of the factors that influence the distribution of gas hydrates and the mechanism of fluid movements beneath and across the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). Therefore, this study integrates seismic, petrophysical and geochemical data from different gas hydrate provinces. This work provides evidence that hydrates can occur below bottom-simulating reflectors, in the presence of sourcing thermogenic hydrocarbons. The relationship between fluid-escape pipes and gas hydrates is further explored, and pipe-like features are suggested to host a significant volume of hydrates. The host lithology also represents a critical factor influencing hydrate and free gas distribution and, in evaluating a natural gas hydrate system, needs to be considered in conjunction with the spatial variability in the methane supply. The three-dimensional distribution of gas hydrate deposits in coarse-grained sediments, representing the current target for hydrate exploration, is shown to be correlated with that of the underlying free gas zone, reflecting sourcing mechanisms dominated by a long-range advection. In such systems, the free gas invasion into the GHSZ appears controlled by the competition between overpressure and sealing capacity of the gas hydrate-bearing sediments. Globally, the thickness of the free gas zones is regulated by the methane supply and by different multi-phase flow processes, including fracturing, capillary invasion and possibly diffusion. In conclusion, this research indicates that geological, fluid flow and stability factors interweave at multiple scales in natural gas hydrate systems.

It is recognised that some proportion of South American large-scale topography has been generated by convection within the Earth's mantle. Yet, spatial and temporal patterns of dynamic topography remain poorly understood. Variation of present-day dynamic topography can be mapped in the oceans by calculating residual depths with respect to the well-known age-depth relationship. Along the margins abutting South America, anomalies with amplitudes of $\pm1$ km and wavelengths of $\sim10^{3}$ km are observed. Onshore, dynamic topography is investigated by analysing a range of disparate datasets. Positive long-wavelength free-air gravity anomalies and slow shear-wave mantle velocities correlate with high plateaux of the Borborema Province and the Central Andean Altiplano. Admittance analyses of these regions are used to gauge dynamic support. Admittance of $ > 20$ mGal km$^{-1}$ at wavelengths $ > $ 500 km suggests partial dynamic support. In this context, inverse modelling of longitudinal river profiles is applied to retrieve a continental-scale uplift history. Erosional parameters are calibrated against an independently derived uplift history of the Borborema Province that reveals uplift in the last 30 Ma. Results suggest that the bulk of South American regional topography grew during Cenozoic times. In the Central Andean Altiplano and Southern Patagonia, most uplift occurred in the last 20 Ma. In both areas, widespread Cenozoic magmatism suggests that youthful uplift might be related to asthenospheric upwelling. Uplift histories are used to predict sediment flux to the Amazon Fan, which reveals that onset of the delta is a direct consequence of intensified Andean uplift. Analysis of the Parna\'iba cratonic basin of northeast Brazil is carried out to evaluate long-term evolution of vertical motions and to understand the mechanisms driving this basin's subsidence. Joint interpretation of a deep seismic reflection profile that traverses the basin and receiver function analyses reveal a 3 km thick basin underlain by three crustal blocks. Moho depths of 38--43 km are observed beneath the Amazon craton west of the basin, whereas depths of 35 km are found underneath the Borborema Province to the east. The Moho is located at 38--42 km depth beneath the basin. Stratigraphic architecture from shallow seismic reflection profiles reveals undisturbed deposition between Palaeozoic and Mesozoic times. Rift-type structures are locally imaged. Subsidence analysis reveals thermally-driven subsidence with thermal time constants of $\sim$ 70--80 Ma. Assessment of crustal thickness variations indicates that minimal extension of up to 80 km, with small stretching factors (up to 1.15), is plausible beneath Parna\'iba. One- and two-dimensional strain rate histories suggest that pre-Silurian rifting followed by thermal subsidence is possible if a minimum of 1 km of syn-rift deposition occurred. Basin-wide erosional unconformities are observed throughout the sedimentary section and correlate with departures from long-term subsidence trends. These steps are interpreted as transient uplift events that led to development of ephemeral landscapes, suggesting that dynamic topography could have played a role in the evolution of this Phanerozoic basin.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:07:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 alves_jcp_dr_botib.pdf: 3347522 bytes, checksum: 430f7c8a15cc08bc6af20d88aee1d9cc (MD5) / Foram analisadas onze espécies de peixes do gênero Characidium, Characidium cf. zebra, Characidium cf. gomesi, Characidium lauroi, Characidium oiticicai, Characidium lanei, Characidium pterostictum, Characidium schubarti, Characidium alipioi, Characidium sp1, Characidium sp2 e Characidium sp3 de diferentes bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, com o uso de técnicas citogenéticas básicas (coloração com Giemsa, localização das RONs pela marcação com nitrato de Prata e bandamento C) e moleculares (marcação por fluorocromos base-específicos, hibridação in situ fluorescente com sondas de DNAr 18S e 5S, com sondas teloméricas (TTAGGG)n e com sondas para histona H1 e também microdissecção, amplificação e hibridação in situ fluorescente com sondas produzidas a partir do cromossomo sexual W e dos cromossomos B). Todas as espécies apresentaram número diplóide de 2n=50 cromossomos, com predominância dos cromossomos dos tipos meta e submetacêntricos, além da ocorrência de cromossomos supranumerários em C. pterostictum, C. oiticicai, C. cf. gomesi e Characidium sp3. Foi observada também a ocorrência de um sistema ZZ-ZW de cromossomos sexuais representado pelo par heteromórfico número 2 em todas as espécies, com exceção apenas de Characidium cf. zebra, que não apresentou cromossomos sexuais diferenciados. O DNAr 5S foi localizado em diferentes cromossomos entre estas espécies, mas sempre em posição intersticial dos cromossomos, reforçando a idéia de que esta localização cromossômica poderia representar alguma vantagem relacionada à organização destes genes no genoma. As RONs, identificadas pela prata, pela CMA3 e pela sonda de DNAr 18S, foram sempre localizadas em compartimentos cromossômicos distintos do DNAr 5S e estão diretamente relacionadas ao processo de diferenciação dos cromossomos Z e W,... / Eleven species of fish of the genus Characidium comprised by Characidium cf. zebra, Characidium cf. gomesi, Characidium lauroi, Characidium oiticicai, Characidium lanei, Characidium pterostictum, Characidium schubarti, Characidium alipioi, Characidium sp1, Characidium sp2, and Characidium sp3 from different Brazilian hydrographic basins were analyzed using basic cytogenetic (coloration with Giemsa, localization of NORs for silver nitrate marking and C-banding) and molecular techniques (for base-specific fluorochrome markings, fluorescent in situ hybridization with 18S and 5S rDNA probes, telomere probes (TTAGGG)n, and H1 histone, as well as microdissection, amplification and in situ fluorescent hybridization using probes prepared from both sex W and B chromosome). All the species presented a diploid number of 2n=50 chromosomes, with a predominance of the meta- and submetacentric types, besides the occurrence of supranumerary chromosomes in C. pterostictum, C. oiticicai, C. cf. gomesi, and Characidium sp3. The occurrence of a ZZ-ZW sex chromosome system represented by the heteromorphic pair number 2 in all species was observed, with the exception of Characidium cf. zebra, which did not presented differentiated sex chromosomes. The 5S rDNA marks were observed in different chromosomes among these species, but always located in an interstitial position, strengthening the idea that this chromosome location might represent some advantage related to the organization of these genes in the genome. NORs identified using Silver and CMA3, staining and 18S rDNA probe have always been located in distinct chromosome compartments when compared to 5S rDNA, showed to be directly related to the Z and W chromosome differentiation process, and is considered to play an important role in their evolution, considering that they could... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Alguns afloramentos das bacias de Icó, Malhada Vermelha e Lima Campos(Cretáceo Inferior), Estado do Ceará, foram estudados objetivando compreender os ambientes deposicionais onde foram preservados os fósseis de vertebrados.Estes fósseis encontram-se desarticulados e fragmentados, entre outras características. Através do levantamento destes dados, foi possível estabelecer modelos tafonômicos para cada afloramento, e, tentativamente, distinguir os diversos modos de preservação destes restos fossilizados. Observou-se que o padrão de formação destas tafocenoses está relacionado a ambientes altamente energéticos, como em depósitos relacionados a eventos de rompimento de diques marginais (crevasse splay), onde elementos que já se encontravam desarticulados eram transportados, causando a intensa fragmentação dos mesmos. / Some outcrops from Icó, Malhada Vermelha and Lima Campos basins (Early Cretaceous), State of Ceará, were studied for a better understanding of the depositional systems where vertebrate fossils were preserved. These fossils were found disarticulated, fragmented, among others features. Through of these data, it was possible to determinate taphonomic models for each outcrop, and, tentatively, to distinguish the different ways of preservation of those fossils. It was observed that the formation pattern of those taphocenoses are related with highly energetic environments, like crevasse splay, where the disarticulated elements were transported, causing the intense fragmentation of the bones.

The Cenozoic evolution of the Pyrenean-Cantabrian mountain belt was driven by both internal andexternal processes, such as tectonics, erosion and deposition. This alpine belt is made up by thePyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains, and is characterized by significant lateral variations intotal shortening, structural styles and topography. This thesis aims to better constrain the controlson exhumation and topography development during syn- to post-orogenic times, from the Eoceneto the Pliocene, by focusing on two characteristic parts of the belt: the Southern Central Pyreneesand the Central Cantabrian Mountains. To this purpose, a multi-disciplinary approach isdeveloped, combining low-temperature thermochronology with different numerical modelingtools. To better understand lateral variations in exhumation of the belt, a new low-temperaturethermochronology dataset is presented for the Cantabrian domain. The first part of this thesispresents new apatite fission-track data and (U-Th)/He analysis on zircons, constraining the timingand amount of exhumation along the central Cantabrian cross-section. In particular, the Eocene toOligocene ages obtained from the different thermochronometers allow us to infer a more importantamount of burial and, consequently, a thicker Mesozoic sedimentary section than previouslyconsidered, thereby also refining the structural style of the section at the upper crustal scale.The extensive thermochronological dataset existing in the central Pyrenees is then used toreconstruct the late-stage evolution of the South Central Axial Zone by thermo-kinematic inversemodeling. The model predicts rapid exhumation of the area during late Eocene (late syn-orogenic)times, followed by a post-orogenic evolution that is strongly controlled by base-level changes. Asa consequence of the establishment of endorheic conditions in the adjacent Ebro foreland basin,together with the strong erosion of the Axial Zone, the southern foreland area was infilled by animportant amount of erosional deposits in late Eocene to early Oligocene times. The models allowus to constrain the level of infilling at ~2.6 km and to date the excavation of these sediments at~10 Ma, following opening of the Ebro basin toward the Mediterranean Sea. The thickness ofsediments draping the foreland fold-and thrust belt was verified using fission-track analysis and(U-Th)/He measurements on apatites from foreland sediments. Thermal modeling of the dataprovides an estimate of 2 to 3 km of sediments on top of the foreland and confirms its incision inLate Miocene times. The effect of syn-orogenic deposition on the building and late evolution ofthe southern Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt has been modeled in the last chapter of this thesis usinga 2D thermo-mechanical numerical modeling approach. The models highlight the potential effectof syn-tectonic sedimentation on thrust kinematics at several stages of wedge building. Ourmodeling also shows that the addition of an Oligocene sediment blanket perturbs the thrustingsequence by stabilizing the central part of the external wedge and enhancing both frontal andinternal accretion; a pattern that reproduces the observed deformation in the Southern CentralPyrenees. / The Cenozoic evolution of the Pyrenean-Cantabrian mountain belt was driven by both internal andexternal processes, such as tectonics, erosion and deposition. This alpine belt is made up by thePyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains, and is characterized by significant lateral variations intotal shortening, structural styles and topography. This thesis aims to better constrain the controlson exhumation and topography development during syn- to post-orogenic times, from the Eoceneto the Pliocene, by focusing on two characteristic parts of the belt: the Southern Central Pyreneesand the Central Cantabrian Mountains. To this purpose, a multi-disciplinary approach isdeveloped, combining low-temperature thermochronology with different numerical modelingtools. To better understand lateral variations in exhumation of the belt, a new low-temperaturethermochronology dataset is presented for the Cantabrian domain. The first part of this thesispresents new apatite fission-track data and (U-Th)/He analysis on zircons, constraining the timingand amount of exhumation along the central Cantabrian cross-section. In particular, the Eocene toOligocene ages obtained from the different thermochronometers allow us to infer a more importantamount of burial and, consequently, a thicker Mesozoic sedimentary section than previouslyconsidered, thereby also refining the structural style of the section at the upper crustal scale.The extensive thermochronological dataset existing in the central Pyrenees is then used toreconstruct the late-stage evolution of the South Central Axial Zone by thermo-kinematic inversemodeling. The model predicts rapid exhumation of the area during late Eocene (late syn-orogenic)times, followed by a post-orogenic evolution that is strongly controlled by base-level changes. Asa consequence of the establishment of endorheic conditions in the adjacent Ebro foreland basin,together with the strong erosion of the Axial Zone, the southern foreland area was infilled by animportant amount of erosional deposits in late Eocene to early Oligocene times. The models allowus to constrain the level of infilling at ~2.6 km and to date the excavation of these sediments at~10 Ma, following opening of the Ebro basin toward the Mediterranean Sea. The thickness ofsediments draping the foreland fold-and thrust belt was verified using fission-track analysis and(U-Th)/He measurements on apatites from foreland sediments. Thermal modeling of the dataprovides an estimate of 2 to 3 km of sediments on top of the foreland and confirms its incision inLate Miocene times. The effect of syn-orogenic deposition on the building and late evolution ofthe southern Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt has been modeled in the last chapter of this thesis usinga 2D thermo-mechanical numerical modeling approach. The models highlight the potential effectof syn-tectonic sedimentation on thrust kinematics at several stages of wedge building. Ourmodeling also shows that the addition of an Oligocene sediment blanket perturbs the thrustingsequence by stabilizing the central part of the external wedge and enhancing both frontal andinternal accretion; a pattern that reproduces the observed deformation in the Southern CentralPyrenees.