La Cordillère des Andes, issue de la subduction de la plaque Pacifique sous le continent Sud-Américain, est un système orogénique propice à la formation de grands systèmes volcaniques acides, dans lesquels coexistent des produits d’éruptions volcaniques explosives de grandes magnitudes et des laves et dômes, associés à des calderas mono- ou polygéniques. Ce mémoire de thèse apporte de nouvelles connaissances sur certains systèmes volcaniques acides du Sud du Pérou, dont les produits affleurent dans les canyons d’Ocoña-Cotahuasi-Maran (OCM). Ces canyons, les plus profonds des Andes (3 à 3,5 km), résultent de la combinaison des processus de soulèvement tectonique, d’incision, et d’érosion depuis 15 Ma. Les imposantes séries ignimbritiques exposées dans cette région (env. 10000 km²), témoignent de l’existence d’un volcanisme explosif de grande ampleur, associé à des systèmes acides peu connus d’après les études antérieures. Cette étude vise tout d’abord à obtenir une chrono-stratigraphie améliorée des événements ignimbritiques (groupes, unités) dans la région OCM pour mieux connaître les récurrences des super-éruptions dans cette région au cours des derniers 25 Ma. Ensuite, nous cherchons à localiser les sources des grandes unités et à identifier les éventuelles structures d’effondrement associées (calderas). Pour ce faire, nous avons combiné diverses techniques, associant l’étude de la stratigraphie et de la lithologie des dépôts volcaniques, les datations par la méthode 40Ar-39Ar des principales unités ignimbritiques et coulées de lave, l’imagerie satellitaire (Landsat, SPOT) et la pétrologie (assemblages minéralogiques, étude des textures et des compositions chimiques) et enfin, les mesures de densité et d’anisotropie de susceptibilité magnétique des ignimbrites (ASM) pour analyser les directions d’écoulement et tenter de localiser leurs sources. Ainsi, les résultats nous ont permis d’identifier huit événements ignimbritiques, dont six majeurs, datés entre ~24 Ma et ~2 Ma. Les âges des grandes unités (Nazca, Alpabamba, Huaylillas, Caraveli, Sencca inférieure et supérieure) montrent une récurrence moyenne de l’ordre de 4-5 Ma depuis 25 Ma. Les lithologies sont assez semblables, bien que les degrés de soudure varient beaucoup, allant de produits meubles jusqu’aux faciès eutaxitiques. L’étude pétrologique révèle des assemblages de minéraux assez homogènes, les paragenèses étant dominées par le quartz, le feldspath, la biotite, l’amphibole et des oxydes. Les volumes bruts des unités principales que nous avons déterminés se situent entre ~40 et ~500-800 km3. Cependant, il ne s’agit que de valeurs minimales, puisque nous considérons que les volumes initiaux sont au moins le double ou le triple, probablement dans la gamme ~100 à ~2400 km3. La distribution des unités ignimbritiques d’OCM et les résultats des analyses ASM désignent plusieurs zones sources. L’unité de Caraveli provient de la caldera de Trapiche, qui contient le lac Parinacochas. Cette structure que nous identifions, d'un diamètre de ~22 km, est située dans un bassin tectonique allongé selon la direction N-S. Elle est occupée dans sa partie ouest par un dôme résurgent de 800 m de haut, le Cerro Trompo Orjo. Les unités Huaylillas et Alpabamba, ainsi que les groupes Sencca (inférieure et supérieure) seraient issus d’une source entièrement recouverte par le massif volcanique quaternaire du Nevado Coropuna. Des estimations de volumes éruptifs suggèrent une atténuation significative du volcanisme ignimbritique depuis 9 Ma, peut-être liée à la maturation orogénique de l’Altiplano-Puna. En profondeur, le magmatisme a probablement contribué à l’épaississement crustal par adjonction de grands volumes de magma. (...) / The Andes, resulting from the subduction of Pacific plate under South-America continental plate, is an orogenic system suitable for large acidic volcanic systems formation. These structures display at the same time volcanic products from high magnitude explosive eruptions, lavas and domes, and mono- or polygenetic calderas. This manuscript brings a new expertise on some of the acidic volcanic systems in South Peru, which products outcrop in the Ocoña - Cotahuasi - Maran canyons (OCM). This canyons system, one of the deepest worldwide (up to 3.5 km), was created by combined tectonic uplift, incision and erosion processes since 15 Ma. Voluminous ignimbritic series widespread in this region (around 10000 km2) are evidences for a past high amplitude explosive volcanic activity related to little-known acidic systems. The topic of this study is to obtain an enhanced chrono-stratigraphy of the OCM region ignimbritic succession (groups and units). This would provide a better knowledge on the regional super-eruptions recurrence since the last 25 Ma. Then, we focus on localizing the largest ignimbrites sources and identify the possible related collapse structures (calderas). For that purpose we combine several studies, from stratigraphy, deposits lithology to 40Ar-39Ar dating of the main ignimbritic units and lava flows. We also use satellite imagery (Landsat, SPOT) and petrology (mineralogical assemblage, textures and geochemical composition). Finally, we measure the ignimbrites density and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) to determine their flowing directions and estimate their sources locations. Thus, the results let us identify eight ignimbritic events among which, six happened between ~24 Ma and ~2 Ma. The main units ages (Nazca, Alpabamba, Huaylillas, Caraveli, lower and upper Sencca) show an average recurrence of 4-5 Ma since 25 Ma. Lithologies are similar even if welding degrees ranges are spread from loose deposits to eutaxitic facies. Petrological study show quite homogeneous mineralogical assemblages since quartz, feldspar, biotite, amphibole and oxydes dominate the paragenesis. Our estimations of the main units bulk volumes range from ~ 40 to ~ 500-800 km3. However, these are only minimum values since we consider that initial volumes as twice or three times higher, probably in the range of ~100 to ~2400 km3. The OCM ignimbrite flow units distribution and the AMS study results indicate several regions as sources for these units. Caraveli unit flowed from Trapiche caldera in which the Parinacochas lake rests. This structure is estimated to be ~22 km of diameter and lays in a N-S orientated tectonic basin. Its western part is occupied with a 800 m high resurgent dome, named Cerro Trompo Orjo. Alpabamba and Huaylillas units, as Sencca units (lower and upper) would come from a source presently entirely covered with the quaternary massif of Nevado Coropuna. Estimations of eruptive volumes recall an important decrease of ignimbritic volcanism since 9 Ma, which might be related to simultaneous Altiplano-Puna orogenic growing. It is supported that deep magmatism have probably contributed to crustal thickening thanks to the addition of large volumes of magma. These results also involve that canyons erosion and incision would have taken place at a rate ranging from 150 to 500 m/Ma during the last 13 Ma. Given that the large-volume acidic system studied in this work is considerable, further research are necessary to improve these results.

La marge de l’Algarve est un système contouritique principalement construit par l'action de la Veine d'Eau Méditerranéenne (MOW) et dont l'évolution est fortement influencée par les processus gravitaires, comme l'atteste les nombreux canyons et chenaux qui entaillent la pente continentale. A partir de l’analyse et de l’interprétation de données acoustiques haute résolution, cette thèse propose une reconstruction du fonctionnement du système contouritique de l’Algarve sur l’ensemble du Quaternaire. Ce travail améliore la compréhension des interactions existant entre les processus gravitaires et contouritiques ainsi que les connaissances concernant leurs facteurs de contrôle. Le schéma de circulation actuelle est conforme à la distribution des faciès sédimentaire et à l’architecture des drifts. La morphologie du fond marin, et notamment la présence de canyons, exercent un contrôle important sur l’orientation et l’intensité de la branche supérieure de la MOW (MUW). Les variations spatiales de la circulation océanique, comme celle induite par la capture du courant par un canyon, se traduisent directement par des différences géométriques et morphologiques au sein des dépôts sédimentaires. D’autre part, la présence de paléochenaux sous les drifts révèle l’existence d’un ancien système gravitaire fossilisé par la construction contouritique. La géométrie interne de ces paléochenaux montre que leur évolution temporelle est étroitement liée à l’interaction entre les écoulements gravitaires et l’hydrodynamique régionale. L’étude sismique met en évidence la présence de corps sédimentaires lenticulaires et sableux, intercalés dans les drifts et interprétés comme des « lobes perchés ». La granularité grossière de ces dépôts ainsi que leur fossilisation rapide et leur préservation par la croissance des drifts font de ces corps sédimentaires particuliers de potentiels réservoirs pour les hydrocarbures, et leur confère ainsi un intérêt industriel important. La mise en place des dépôts au cours des deux derniers millions d'années révèle que la construction de la marge de l’Algarve s’effectue sous l’action indépendante ou conjointe des processus gravitaires et des processus contouritiques. La sédimentation de cette marge est essentiellement contrôlée par les fluctuations climato-eustatiques : (1) en haut niveau marin relatif, les processus contouritiques dominent et les drifts croissent sous l’action d’une MUW intense; (2) en bas niveau marin relatif, la MUW est affaiblit et la croissance des drifts est réduite ; les processus gravitaires deviennent dominants et permettent la mise en place de lobes perchés sur la pente. / The Algarve Margin is a contourite system principally built under the action of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW). The margin evolution is strongly influenced by gravity processes as attested by the presence of numerous canyons and channel that incise continental slope. Based on analysis and interpretation of high resolution acoustic data, this thesis proposes a reconstruction of sedimentary history of Algarve Margin during Quaternary. This work improves the understanding of the interactions existing between gravity processes and contourite processes, and their forcing parameters. The present circulation pattern reflects the sedimentary facies distribution and the drift geometry. The seafloor morphology and notably presence of canyons play an important role on the orientation and intensity of the MOW upper branch (MUW). Spatial variations of oceanic circulation, such as induced by current capture by a canyon, generate differences in geometry and morphology in sedimentary deposits. Furthermore, the presence of paleochannels under the drifts underlines the existence of ancient gravity system buried by contourite construction. The filling geometry of paleochannels shows that their temporal evolution is strongly linked to the interaction between gravity currents and regional hydrodynamics. Seismic data analyse emphasizes the presence of sandy lenticular sedimentary bodies intercalated in drifts. They are interpreted as “perched lobes”. Their sand content and their rapid fossilization and preservation by drift construction, confer them an important industrial interest. During the two last million years, sedimentary deposits show that Algarve Margin developed under the action of contourite processes, gravity processes and their interactions. On this margin, the sedimentation is principally controlled by climato-eustatic variations: (1) during high sea level, contourite processes are dominant and drifts grow under the influence of intense MUW; (2) during sea level lowstand MUW decrease and drifts growth decreases; gravity processes become dominant and generate the formation of perched lobes on the slope.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 24 March in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2014. / The Biosphere Reserve (BR) model of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) reflects a shift towards more socially accountable conservation, setting a basis for improving the relationships between people and their environment. The BR approach of dual ‘conservation’ and ‘sustainable development’ objectives is a long-term perspective that increases people’s ability to sustainably manage environmental resources into the future. By 2013 the MAB Programme had resulted in 621 sites designated globally since first inception in 1976, with 11 of these new listings since 2012. Yet regardless of this global spatial expansion, there are few examples of BRs successfully conforming to the MAB’s full criteria, as the reality of aligning conservation and development goals in this model has typically favoured one over the other, with examples of development objectives fuelling broad-scale landscape transformation and conservation objectives that have ignored socio-economic opportunities. However there are a number of case studies presented herein that have shown considerable success, and this thesis suggests that the potential opportunities inherent in the model may outweigh implementation challenges. This thesis critically reviews the history and evolution of the Programme internationally, and makes recommendations for the future of the MAB Programme. In the South African context, the BR model has been applied to a regional conservation landscape in the north-eastern part of the country. The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve (K2C) is a long-established land-use mosaic of socio-economic juxtapositions, where nationally important economic sectors and world-renowned protected areas (e.g. the Kruger National Park) neighbour extensive, mostly rural, human populations engaged in informal livelihood practices. These vast settlement expanses are artefacts of the former political system in South Africa, and have been prioritised by the South African National Government for urgent socio-economic upliftment. Given that understanding the underlying land-use mosaic is essential for successful implementation of the BR model in any landscape, this thesis assessed land-cover change across the BR (1993 – 2006 – 2012), through the creation of land-cover classification maps, analysing spatial changes in cover relative to the MAB theoretical aspirations. It focuses on three consolidated land-cover cover classes: Intact Vegetation, Impacted Vegetation and Settlement, that present a graduated scale of land-use intensities across the BR, acting as surrogates for the ‘environmental’ and ‘human utilisation’ aspects of the BR approach. Results indicate that the spatial distribution of land-cover change in K2C bears little regard for the theoretical BR zonation and the relative limitations on ‘use’ that typifies successful BR implementation. The spatial expansion of Settlement cover replaced adjacent Impacted Vegetation, which in turn encroached in original areas of Intact Vegetation cover, increasingly fragmenting Intact Vegetation across K2C. The expansion of Impacted Vegetation has resulted in the spatial consolidation of communal use areas, which has likely serious implications for the long-term sustainability of current harvesting levels. Anecdotal field observations have indicated community responses to these concerns with the formal fencing of rangelands to secure ownership and control access. Losses of Intact vegetation translate spatially into an area >400km2, with observed land-cover changes occurring beyond the transition zone, encroaching into the (fully-protected) core and (partially–protected) buffer zones. The increased rate of landscape change in the recent observation period (2.3%1993-2006 versus 5.7%2006-2012) poses challenges for landscape management, with future predictions of escalating transformation likely to undermine BR sustainability, as well as options for a regionally connected protected area network. Historical landscape trends predict a further 5.1% loss of intact vegetation in the next 6 years (2012 – 2018), yet this may over-estimate the potential for transformation in this landscape. However the possibility of a similar loss over a longer temporal period, i.e. 12 years, is not improbable, with the unprotected matrix landscape of the transition zone having experienced comparable losses since 1993, i.e. 4.17%. K2C has had substantial success with pilot socio-economic projects, and has received formal international recognition for the stakeholder engagement / alignment occurring in the subregion as a result of the BR’s listing here. Given these successes, and the considerable investment in its establishment, it is likely that the BR model here will endure. The results of this thesis contribute to improving implementation success long-term, informing policy and management priorities across the BR. These include contributions to i) a marketing approach for the BR, specifically the importance of a K2C ‘brand’ for enhancing co-operation and strengthening the BR’s regional identity, as well as ii) providing support for land-use planning and decisions related to land-use practices and BR sustainability.

The development of cities and population growth have led, among other urban problems, the increase in sound pressure levels of environmental noise. With the overcrowding of cities, the roads start to host large flows of vehicles, among other sound sources. These factors, coupled with the layout and massing of buildings, make the road a polluter responsible for sound pressure levels highly detrimental to health. In Brazil, noise has not been considered by urban planning policies. This study aims to assess the current conditions of urban noise pollution due to vehicular traffic on the downtown of Chapecó - SC. To this end, we sought to map the sound pressure levels, compare them to the municipal and federal laws relating to urban noise, to relate the sound descriptors of the traffic noise with the volume of traffic, to relate the geometry of the built environment with levels of sound pressure and compare the results with the rates proposed by the urban plan of the municipality. To conduct the survey data, was defined a mesh grid from which were located 14 measuring points. Data collection was performed at peak times and these data have been divided into acoustic quantities, geometrical quantities, quantities of traffic and meteorological quantities. The sound pressure levels collected from the study area had higher than those recommended by national standards at all times and points of measurement. From the linear regression analysis between the sound descriptors and flow of vehicular traffic, it was realized that the LAeq is not sufficient to explain the vehicular noise, because the variation of the LAeq is influenced not only by the variation in the number of vehicles, but also by the features the built environment of the road. The variation of LA90 and LA50 sound descriptors showed better correlation with the variation of the flow of vehicular traffic. The urbanistic indices proposed by the plan of the municipality stimulate the future shape of urban canyons, which can aggravate the problems related to noise from vehicular traffic in the local community. / O desenvolvimento das cidades e o crescimento demográfico têm acarretado, entre outros problemas urbanos, o aumento dos níveis de pressão sonora do ruído ambiental. Com a aglomeração dos centros urbanos, as vias passam a abrigar grandes fluxos de veículos, entre outras fontes sonoras. Esses fatores, aliados à disposição e à volumetria das edificações, tornam o tráfego rodoviário um poluidor acústico responsável por níveis de pressão sonora altamente prejudiciais à saúde. No Brasil, o ruído não tem sido considerado pelas políticas de planejamento urbano. O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar as condições atuais de poluição sonora urbana devido ao tráfego veicular em área central do município de Chapecó SC. Para tanto, buscou-se mapear os níveis de pressão sonora, comparar os mesmos à legislação municipal e federal referente ao ruído urbano, relacionar os descritores sonoros do ruído de tráfego com o volume de tráfego, relacionar a geometria do ambiente construído com os níveis de pressão sonora e comparar os resultados com os índices urbanísticos propostos pelo plano diretor do município. Para realização do levantamento de dados, foi definida uma malha quadriculada a partir da qual foram localizados 14 pontos de medição. O estudo delimitou a coleta de dados aos horários de pico e estes dados apresentam-se divididos em grandezas acústicas, grandezas geométricas, grandezas de tráfego e grandezas meteorológicas. Os níveis de pressão sonora coletados da área de estudo se apresentaram superiores aos preconizados pelas normativas nacionais em todos os horários e pontos de medição. A partir das análises de regressão linear entre os descritores sonoros e o fluxo de tráfego de veículos, percebeu-se que o LAeq não é suficiente para explicar o ruído veicular, uma vez que a variação do LAeq sofre influência não só da variação no número de veículos, como também das características do ambiente construído da via. A variação dos descritores sonoros LA90 e LA50 demonstraram melhor correlação com a variação do fluxo de tráfego veicular. Os índices urbanísticos propostos pelo plano diretor do município estimulam a configuração futura de cânions urbanos, o que pode agravar os problemas relacionados ao ruído de tráfego veicular enfrentados pela comunidade local.

<p>Део геонаслеђа југоисточне Србије ИЗ&nbsp; препознат је као такав и тиме заштићен<br />од стране надлежних институција, али без обзира на ову врсту заштите,&nbsp; објекти<br />геонаслеђа трпе и одређене типове деградације. Ова студија бави се препознавањем геонаслеђа и ван његовог институционалног оквира и истражује проблеме конзервације истог, а нарочито проблеме и ниво интерпретације заступљене на овим објектима. За потребе ове студије уређено је неколико научних истраживања и обиман теренски рад.</p> / <p>Deo geonasleđa jugoistočne Srbije IZ&nbsp; prepoznat je kao takav i time zaštićen<br />od strane nadležnih institucija, ali bez obzira na ovu vrstu zaštite,&nbsp; objekti<br />geonasleđa trpe i određene tipove degradacije. Ova studija bavi se prepoznavanjem geonasleđa i van njegovog institucionalnog okvira i istražuje probleme konzervacije istog, a naročito probleme i nivo interpretacije zastupljene na ovim objektima. Za potrebe ove studije uređeno je nekoliko naučnih istraživanja i obiman terenski rad.</p> / <p>A part of South-eastern Serbia&rsquo;s&nbsp; geoheritage is already recognized as such and protected by the institutions in charge. But no matter to this type of protection,<br />geoheritage sites endure certain types of degradation. This study shows a research of geoheritage outside of its instutional frame and finds problems of geoheritage<br />conservation and interpretation connected to these geosites. For the purpose of this study several scientific researches have been conducted along with extensive fieldwork.</p>

Une forme de relief est une région reconnaissable par sa forme et ses éléments saillants. L'approche qui sera ici développée vise à automatiser l’identification de formes du relief et sera appliquée aux canyons sous-marins. Les canyons sont des vallées encaissées et incisées dans le fond marin de la pente continentale. Ils représentent les principaux conduits pour le transport des sédiments en provenance du plateau continental vers la plaine abyssale. Habituellement, l’identification automatisée des formes de relief est réalisée par des traitements d’images basés sur le pixel. Les méthodes traditionnelles exigent la segmentation et la classification d’images. Ces approches calculent des descripteurs locaux tels que la courbure et dépendent de paramètres de seuil fixés par l’utilisateur. D’ailleurs, ce type de classification d’image peut omettre les caractéristiques photo-interprétatives. En général, les photo-interpréteurs reconnaissent des canyons par leur forme globale (ils sont étroits, allongés et ont des pentes raides) et leur position (ils traversent la pente de manière orthogonale), étant observés autour d’une structure saillante qui correspond à la ligne la plus basse ou talweg. Pour pallier cette difficulté, nous travaillons sur une structure topologique et des méthodes basées sur des approches objets permettant d’extraire les éléments saillants des formes de relief. Ainsi, notre structure de base est illustrée sur un réseau de triangles irréguliers (TIN) généré à partir de données capturées par un sonar multifaisceaux dans l’estuaire du Saint Laurent. À partir du TIN, nous extrayons le réseau de surface pour extraire les éléments structurants des canyons. Ensuite, l’extraction de la ligne du fond du canyon se fait par le regroupement et l’agrégation de segments formant le squelette des canyons. En troisième lieu se réalise la caractérisation des polygones qui représentent les fonds des canyons. Finalement, les résultats sont validés par rapport à une classification fournie par des géomorphologues. / Submarine canyons are steep valleys incised into the continental slope. They are the principal channels for sediment flows from the continental shelf to the sea floor. Their importance is primordial for submarine ecosystems since they act as transportation channels for nutrients and organic substances. In addition, submarine canyons are relevant features for geomorphologists because they can explain the origin and evolution of the marine landscape. Submarine canyons’ extraction involves the automatic identification of submarines elements through geomorphometric approaches or quantitative surface analysis. Traditional methods require image segmentation and classification. These approaches compute discrete local descriptors such as the curvature and depend on threshold parameters chosen by the user. Furthermore, image classification can omit global photo-interpretative characteristics. In general, photo-interpreters identify canyons by their overall shape (narrow, elongated, steep slopes) and position (running across the continental slope in a straight line), observed around salient thalwegs. We move from pixel classification to an object-oriented approach built on a topological data structure. The surface network is a graph where critical points such as pits and peaks are connected by ridges and thalwegs. Its extraction does not require any parameter. Relevant thalwegs are selected by simplifying the surface network. Simplification parameters are not set locally at pixel level but at the structure level. The valley floor is computed around each thalweg and used to classify canyons and other channels. The method is illustrated on a triangulated irregular network generated from multibeam sounding data from the St-Lawrence estuary (Canada). Results were validated against a manual classification performed by geomorphologists.

Este estudo constitui parte do Projeto Habitats Heterogeneidade Ambiental da Bacia de Campos coordenado pelo CENPES/Petrobras, um projeto multidisciplinar de caracterização ambiental que considera as diferentes feições e habitats da margem continental do sudeste brasileiro. O objetivo desta tese foi investigar os processos relacionados com a origem, o transporte e o acúmulo de matéria orgânica (MO) em sedimentos da margem continental da Bacia de Campos (RJ). Para isso, foram determinados a composição elementar da matéria orgânica (carbono e nitrogênio) por combustão a seco e os lipídios (esteróis, álcoois e ácidos graxos) por CG-MS e CG-DIC. Foram analisadas 215 amostras de sedimento superficial (0-2 cm de profundidade), coletadas em duas amostragens (períodos seco e chuvoso de 2008/2009), distribuídas sobre 12 isóbatas (de 25 a 3000 m) ao longo de 9 transectos de norte a sul da bacia. Além disto, foram ainda consideradas as isóbatas de 400 a 1900 m em dois cânions submarinos no norte da bacia (Almirante Câmara e Grussaí). Com base nos resultados obtidos, a MO sedimentar na plataforma e talude da bacia revelou-se essencialmente autóctone, derivada de produtores primários e secundários. Com isto, a MO contém uma fração reativa significativa e, portanto, é potencialmente biodisponível para os organismos bentônicos. No entanto, foram observados gradientes espaciais significativos na qualidade e na quantidade da MO sedimentar. Na plataforma continental (25 m a 150 m de profundidade) as concentrações de lipídios foram intermediárias e houve predomínio de MO sedimentar lábil. Exceções foram as áreas influenciadas por ressurgência costeira e/ou intrusão sub-superficial (próximo à Cabo Frio, Cabo de São Tomé e no limite norte da bacia), onde as concentrações foram altas. No talude superior e médio (400 a 1300 m) as concentrações de MO foram notadamente mais elevadas, mas com maior influência de processos bacterianos de alteração de sua composição original. E no talude inferior (1900 a 3000 m) as concentrações de MO estiveram muito baixas e apenas os lipídios mais resistentes à degradação bacteriana foram encontrados em concentrações mensuráveis. Isto sugeriu a exportação de materiais da plataforma ao longo do gradiente batimétrico, possivelmente decorrente da ação de meandros e vórtices da Corrente do Brasil e das correntes de fundo atuantes na região. Além disto, por ser lábil e biodisponível, a MO no sedimento apresenta uma fração biodisponível que pode ter uma influência na ecologia das comunidades bentônicas, particularmente aquelas localizadas no talude superior. Os cânions Grussaí e Almirante Câmara se revelaram regiões de acúmulo de MO e importantes no transporte da MO com valor nutritivo para comunidades bentônicas do talude médio e inferior. / This study is part of the Habitats Project - Campos Basin Environmental Heterogeneity - coordinated by CENPES/PETROBRAS, a multidisciplinary project that considers environmental characterization of the different features and habitats of the Brazilian South-Eastern continental margin. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the processes related to the origin, transport and accumulation of organic matter (OM) in sediments of the continental margin of the Campos Basin (RJ).To this end, the elemental composition of organic matter (carbon and nitrogen) - determined by dry combustion - and lipids (sterols, alcohols and fatty acids) - determined by GCMS and GC-FID - were considered. It was analyzed 215 samples of surface sediment (0-2 cm depth) collected in two samplings (dry and rainy seasons of 2008/2009), distributed over 12 isobaths (25 to 3000 m) along transects distributed from north to south of the basin. Moreover, it was also considered samples from the 400 to 1900 m isobaths in two submarine canyons (Almirante Câmara and Grussaí) in the northern basin. Based on the results, the sedimentary OM continental shelf and slope of Campos Basin was considered to be essentially autochthonous, derived from primary and secondary producers. As a consequence, a significant fraction of OM is reactive and therefore is potentially bioavailable to benthic organisms. However, significant spatial gradients in the quality and quantity of sedimentary OM were observed. In the continental shelf (25 m to 150 m depths), concentrations of lipids were intermediate and there was a predominance of labile sedimentary OM. Exceptions to this general feature were the areas influenced by coastal upwelling and/or sub-surface water intrusion (near Cabo Frio, Cabo de São Tomé and the northern boundary of the basin), where high concentrations of both total organic carbon and lipids were measured. In the upper and middle slope (400 to 1300 m) concentrations of OM were notably higher, but with greater influence of bacterial processes changing their original composition. And in the lower slope (1900 to 3000 m) concentrations of OM were very low and only the lipids more resistant to bacterial degradation were found in measurable concentrations. This suggested the export of materials from the continental shelf along the depth gradient, possibly due to the action of eddies and meanders of the Brazil Current and bottom currents operating in the region. Moreover, for its lability and bioavailability, the OM in the sediment can have a major influence on the ecology of benthic communities, particularly those located on the upper slope. The Almirante Câmara and Grussaí canyons revealed to be regions of OM accumulation and important features on the transport of OM with nutritional value for benthic communities of middle and lower slope.

a venir

Des observations in situ et la modélisation ont été conjointement utilisées pour mieux comprendre les processus physiques qui contrôlent les échanges côte-large et étudier les transferts de matière particulaire gouvernés par l'effet des courants et des vagues dans le Golfe du Lion. Cette étude montre que les tempêtes de vent marin induisent une circulation cyclonique sur le plateau et un processus de downwelling dans les canyons sous-marins. En période automnale, lorsque la colonne d'eau est stratifiée et que l'eau du plateau est légère, le downwelling est limité en profondeur. En revanche, en hiver, les plongées d'eaux denses, formées lors des vents de nord froids sur le plateau, intensifient ce processus. D'autre part, les tempêtes de vent marin sont responsables de fortes remises en suspension sur l'ensemble du plateau (> 5 M t) et d'une exportation massive dans la partie ouest du Golfe. Le canyon du Cap Creus apparaît comme une voie d'exportation privilégiée vers le large.

Les marges continentales, passives ou actives, sont la principale voie de transfert sédimentaire entre le plateau continental et le bassin océanique profond et les plaines abyssales. Les pentes continentales sont le siège de processus d'érosion/dépôt sous le contrôle de transfert de flux particulaires continentaux chenalisés par des structures érosives, telles que les canyons sous‐marins, puis redistribues à l'ensemble de la marge. Les canyons érodent fortement les pentes continentales et contribuent à l'évolution de leur morphologie au cours du temps. On retrouve cependant des canyons sous‐marins qui ne sont pas en relation avec la présence d'un réseau fluviatile. De ce fait, la formation et l'évolution des canyons sous‐marins sont encore peu comprises. Ce travail de thèse s'intéresse aux processus de formation et d'évolution de six canyons sous-marins sur la Marge Ouest du Bassin Ligure et à dix systèmes de canyons sur la Marge Calabro-Ionienne. Le but de cette étude est de contraindre les principales caractéristiques morphométriques (longueur, largeur, profondeur, inclinaison, sinuosité), morphologique (éléments architecturaux, configuration) des canyons, de caractériser leur évolution amont‐aval et d'analyser leur structure interne, afin de mieux comprendre l'origine des canyons sous‐marins, leurs mécanismes de construction et leur évolution au cours du temps en relation avec le contexte géologique régional et leurs potentiels bassins versants subaérien. Pour cela, une approche basée sur une analyse morpho-bathymétrique et géophysiques a été mise en œuvre à partir de relevés bathymétriques complets des marges, de profils de sismiques, de Chirp et de SAR.