Les dorsales océaniques sont caractérisées par une sismicité de faible magnitude, induite par une succession d’épisodes volcaniques et tectoniques. Le déploiement de réseaux d’hydrophones autonomes le long de grandes sections de dorsales permet d’enregistrer cette sismicité peu détectable par les stations terrestres. Dans l’océan Atlantique Nord, de nombreuses expériences hydroacoustiques ont été conduites depuis 1999, donnant accès à des séries d’observations temporelles sur plusieurs années. La présente thèse s’inscrit dans ce contexte, avec l’acquisition et le traitement de nouvelles données. L’analyse de catalogues télésismiques et hydroacoustiques, couplés à des données bathymétriques et gravimétriques, a contribué à la caractérisation des processus d’accrétion actifs le long de la dorsale médio-Atlantique Nord. Les travaux réalisés lors de cette thèse ont permis de : (1) rechercher des paramètres responsables d’une différence de sismicité entre des groupes de segments de la dorsale médio-Atlantique ; (2) proposer une nouvelle limite sud d’influence du point chaud des Açores ; (3) identifier et caractériser différents types de processus d’accrétion à partir de la recherche de crises sismiques ; (4) mettre en évidence une crise magmatique de grande ampleur et une intrusion magmatique à travers une discontinuité non-transformante ; et (5) proposer un schéma de répartition des processus d’accrétion dominants le long de l’axe de la dorsale médio-Atlantique Nord, à partir d’une analyse spatiotemporelle de la sismicité. L’ensemble de ces résultats montre l’importance des catalogues de sismicité à grande étendue spatiale et temporelle pour approfondir notre connaissance : sur la dynamique des segments de dorsale et les interactions entre l’axe de la dorsale et le point chaud, et d’autre part, sur la récurrence des processus d’accrétion. / The mid-ocean ridge is caracterised by a seismicity of low magnitude generated by multiple volcanic and tectonic episodes. Autonomous hydrophones arrays along large ridge sections are efficient to record low seismicity contrary to landbased stations. In the northern Atlantic Ocean, several hydroacoustic experiments have been realised since 1999 that supply long term records.This thesis is based on the acquisition and the treatment of new data. The analysis of teleseismic and hydroacoustic catalogues combined with bathymetric and gravimetric data, have contributed to the characterisation of accretionary processes along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This PhD work allowed : (1) to research parameters responsable of a seismicity difference between groups of Mid-Atlantic Ridge segments; (2) to propose a new southern limit of the Azores hotspot influence ; (3) to identify and define different types of seafloor spreading processes based on seismic crisis interpretations ; (4) to highlight a large magmatic crisis and a magmatic intrusion across a non-transform discontinuity ; and (5) to propose dominant seafloor spreading processes from a spatio-temporal seismicity analysis along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The entire study shows the value of large spatial and temporal seismicity catalogues to broaden our knowledge on : the dynamic of the ridge segments, the interactions between the ridge axis and the hotspot and the recurrence of the seafloor spreading processes.

Dissertação(Mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2006. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-17T12:34:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan.pdf: 1989770 bytes, checksum: 0cfdf3653fbd708f4597e22268dfad34 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T16:31:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan.pdf: 1989770 bytes, checksum: 0cfdf3653fbd708f4597e22268dfad34 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T16:31:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan.pdf: 1989770 bytes, checksum: 0cfdf3653fbd708f4597e22268dfad34 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Montes submarinos são as principais feições topográficas de fundo oceânico. Com uma gama considerável de alturas e profundidades de topo, dispondo de uma variedade de tipos de substratos e habitats, constituem importantes ecossistemas para a biota de regiões oceânicas. Ao longo da ZEE das regiões Central e Nordeste registra-se a presença de diversos bancos e ilhas oceânicas, as quais compreendem a área de estudo do presente trabalho. Essas áreas foram prospectadas com metodologia hidroacústica ao longo de dois cruzeiros, executados nas regiões Central e Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados hidroacústicos, ambientais e biológicos provenientes desses dois cruzeiros foram analisados a fim de classificar os eco-registros detectados, estudar possíveis alterações na estrutura termohalina decorrentes da presença de bancos e ilhas, e avaliar a relação entre a presença destas feições e a distribuição e abundâncias de organismos pelágicos. Os eco-registros detectados pela sonda, na região Nordeste do Brasil, nos setores Bancos Oceânicos do Ceará, Atol das Rocas e Arquipélagos de Fernando de Noronha e de São Pedro e São Paulo, foram classificados nos ecotipos Camada Oceânica, Myctophidae, Camada Oceânica com Myctophidae e Nuvem de Quebra. Efeitos da presença dos bancos e ilhas, provocando alterações nas características termohalinas locais, não foram evidenciados a partir dos dados ambientais disponíveis. Não foi observado um padrão claro na distribuição dos valores de densidade acústica nos entornos das feições consideradas no presente estudo, indicando diferenças locais associadas às mesmas. Eventos de migração nictemeral foram frequentemente observados e hidroacusticamente registrados. Essas migrações estabelecem importantes diferenças nos níveis de densidades acústicas durante o dia e a noite. No período noturno as densidades são mais elevadas entre a superfície e os 500 m, limite das prospecções, do que no período diurno. Tais eventos são, provavelmente, de destacada importância ecológica para a região. / Seamounts are the main topographical features of the oceanic bottom. With a considerable range of heights and top depths, and a variety of substrata and different habitats, constitute important ecosystems. Along the Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE) of the Central and Northeast coasts of Brazil several oceanic banks and islands exist and are the geographical area of the present study where two acoustic assessment cruises were carried out. The aims of this study are the classification of the echo records, to evaluate possible alterations in the thermohaline structure due the presence of banks and islands, and the analysis of the relationship between the presence of these features and the distribution and abundance of pelagic organisms. Hydroacoustic, environmental and biological data derived from such cruises were used. The echo records were classified in the Oceanic Layer, Myctophidae, Oceanic Layer with Myctophidae and Cloud of Break echo types. Evidences were not found of the effects of the presence of banks and islands in the local thermohaline structure, with the available data. A clear pattern was not observed in the distribution of the recorded acoustic density around the features, indicating local differences associated to the same ones. Strong and important vertical migration events were frequently observed and recorded. Acoustic densities observed from the surface down to 500 m, maximum assessed depth, were higher during the night compared to daylight hours. Such events are, probably, ecologically very important in the studied area.

Tese(doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2010. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-17T13:04:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan Cruz Weigert.pdf: 7836131 bytes, checksum: 7123df61e1d6d620cadcbc3f856e5539 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T16:42:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan Cruz Weigert.pdf: 7836131 bytes, checksum: 7123df61e1d6d620cadcbc3f856e5539 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T16:42:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Stefan Cruz Weigert.pdf: 7836131 bytes, checksum: 7123df61e1d6d620cadcbc3f856e5539 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Como típico ambiente marinho dominado por corrente de contorno oeste, a margem continental brasileira apresenta uma baixa produtividade biológica, especialmente no pelagial. Processos oceanográficos como frentes termais, vórtices e áreas de ressurgência determinam alterações nas características físico-químicas, através de processos de mistura e renovação de nutrientes. Tais feições oceanográficas podem aumentar a produtividade e concentrar biomassa. A metodologia hidroacústica é amplamente aplicada para prospectar, mapear e estimar a abundância de pequenos peixes pelágicos, bem como em estudos de ecologia das espécies, correlacionando as ocorrências de agregações biológicas a processos oceanográficos de enriquecimento. Dados satelitais da cor do oceano e de TSM têm sido frequentemente utilizados para mapear processos oceanográficos, especialmente por proporcionar uma visão sinóptica bidimensional dos oceanos a nível global, com alta resolução espacial e temporal dos dados. O presente estudo teve por objetivo principal correlacionar padrões de distribuição e abundância de organismos pelágicos a processos oceanográficos que operam em escalas da ordem de dezenas a centenas de milhas náuticas e de dias a meses, através da análise de dados hidroacústicos e ambientais coletados in situ, a partir de cinco cruzeiros de pesquisa realizados entre o Chuí e a costa do Ceará, e de dados satelitais. A análise dos dados de densidade acústica, associados às informações satelitais permitiu avaliar a relação entre processos de larga escala espaço temporal e o acúmulo de densidade biológica em uma ampla área da ZEE brasileira. A utilização de dados satelitais foi fundamental para observar processos oceanográficos em uma escala espacial mais ampla do que a dos dados coletados in situ, permitindo assim o acompanhamento da evolução de importantes processos oceanográficos, sobretudo na região SE-S. Foi possível traçar um comparativo em termos gerais entre as macrorregiões da costa (SE-S, Central e Nordeste) em termos de complexidade ambiental associada a processos oceanográficos, que é decrescente do sul do Brasil em direção a região nordeste. Na região SE-S a disponibilidade de dados em diferentes estações do ano permitiu avaliar respostas biológicas às diferentes condições ambientais observadas. No período de Inverno obteve-se correlação negativa entre densidade acústica e TSM para a área ao sul do Cabo de Santa Marta Grande e positiva para a área ao norte, indicando a atuação de dois sistemas antagônicos de larga escala espacial, ambos promovendo aumento da densidade biológica. Quando os mesmos dados foram analisados em conjunto não se observou correlação entre o acúmulo de organismos e a TSM, devido à anulação causada pelo antagonismo dos processos. O avanço da massa de água fria transportada de sul para norte no período de inverno promove um importante aporte de energia no extremo sul da área. A primavera/verão corresponde ao período com maior disponibilidade de biomassa na região SES, refletindo a alta produtividade do sistema neste período. Nas regiões Central e Nordeste, devido a homogeneidade e estabilidade em termos de processos oceanográficos não se observa correlação entre densidade acústica e dados satelitais. / As a typical marine environment dominated by western boundary currents, the Brazilian continental margin has low biological productivity, especially in the pelagic system. Oceanographic processes such as thermal fronts, eddies and upwelling areas determine changes in physicochemical characteristics, through processes of mixing and nutrient renovation. These oceanographic features may increase productivity and concentrate biomass. The hydroacoustic method is widely applied to the assessment, mapping and also to estimate the abundance of small pelagic fishes, as well as in ecology of many marine species, in order to correlate the occurrence of biological aggregations to oceanographic processes of enrichment. Satellite data of the ocean color and SST have been frequently used to map oceanographic processes, especially to obtain a two-dimensional synoptic view of the global ocean, with high spatial and temporal resolution. This study aimed to investigate patterns of abundanc and distribution of pelagic organisms and to correlate them to oceanographic processes which operate on scales of the order of tens to hundreds of nautical miles and days to months, through the analysis of hydroacoustic and environmental data collected in situ on five research cruises along the Brazilian coast, from Chui (RS) to the coast of Ceará (CE). The analysis of the acoustic densities associated with satellite information provided the basis to evaluate the relationship between large scale temporal and spatial processes and the accumulation of biological density above a large area of the Brazilian EEZ. The use of satellite data was essential to observe oceanographic processes on a spatial scale larger than the environmental data collected in situ, allowing the observation of the development of major oceanographic processes, specially in the SE-S area. It was possible to draw, in general terms, a comparison among macro regions of the SE-S, Central and Northeast coasts in terms of the environmental complexity associated with the oceanographic processes, which decreases from the south of Brazil towards the northeast. The availability of data to the SE-S region, in three different seasons, allowed to investigate biological responses to different environmental patterns. In the winter it was calculated a negative correlation between acoustic density and SST for the area to the south of Cabo de Santa Marta Grande, and positive for the area to the north, indicating the occurrence of two antagonistic systems of large spatial scale, both associated with high biological density. When those data were analyzed together there was no correlation between the accumulation of organisms and SST, due to the effect caused by the antagonism of the processes. The progressive movement of cold water transported from the south towards the north during the winter promotes a significant amount of new energy in the south part of this region. Spring/summer time was the period with greater availability of biomass in the SE-S region, reflecting the high productivity of the system during this season. In the Central and Northeast zones, due to homogeneity and stability of the oceanographic processes it was not observed correlation between density and acoustic satellite data.

Les processus volcaniques et tectoniques sont à l'origine de la création de la croûte océanique et de la sismicité des dorsales, mais sont rarement détectés par les stations sismologiques. Les réseaux d'hydrophones, immergés dans la colonne d'eau océanique, sont capables d'enregistrer les phases acoustiques produites par les séismes sous-marins, les ondes T. Dans l'océan Indien, il y a trois dorsales à taux d'expansion contrastés, les dorsales Sud-Ouest Indienne, Centrale Indienne et Sud-Est Indienne; c'est donc le lieu idéal pour examiner les relations entre sismicité et taux d'expansion. À cet effet, le réseau OHASISBIO, a permis la détection de plus de 1400 séismes en un an le long de ces trois dorsales, soit cinq fois plus que les stations sismologiques.Nonobstant leur taux d'expansion contrastés, le taux de sismicité moyen des dorsales est similaire, montrant qu'il n'y a pas de relation directe entre taux d'expansion et de sismicité. La distribution des séismes le long de l'axe de chaque dorsale est contrastée et révèle des modes d'accrétion différents. Le long de la dorsale Sud-Ouest Indienne, la sismicité est peu abondante mais régulièrement distribuée le long de l'axe à l'est de la zone de fracture de Melville. Au contraire, le long des dorsales Sud-est et Centrale indiennes, la sismicité est bien corrélée avec la segmentation. Les séismes sont concentrés aux extrémités des segments et autour des discontinuités; les centres de segments sont majoritairement asismiques à l'exception des sites hydrothermaux de la dorsale Centrale Indienne et d'un segment actif de la dorsale Sud-Est Indienne. Les variations de la sismicité à l'échelle du segment reflètent l'état thermique de la croûte sous les dorsales Centrale et Sud-Est Indienne cependant que les variations à grande échelle expriment des phénomènes plus profonds sous la dorsale Sud-Ouest Indienne. / Volcanic and tectonic events are responsible for the seismicity associated with sea floor spreading. They are yet poorly detected by land-based seismological networks. Arrays of hydrophones, moored into the SOFAR channel, are capable of recording the seismo-acoustic phase generated by low-magnitude submarine earthquakes, the T waves. In the Indian Ocean, there are three mid-oceanic ridges with contrasted spreading rates, the Southwest, Central and Southeast indian ridges; it is thus the ideal place for examining the relationships between seismicity and spreading rate. To this effect, the OHASISBIO network of hydrophones, detected more than 1400 earthquakes in a year along the three mid-oceanic ridges in the Indian Ocean, which is about five times more events than land-based networks.Although the ridges have contrasted spreading rates, their mean seismicity rates are similar, suggesting that there is no direct relationship between seismicity and spreading rates. The along axis distribution of the seismicity, however, is contrasted and reveals fundamentally different modes of accretion. Along the Southwest Indian Ridge, events are sparse but regularly distributed along the axis, especially east of the Melville fracture zone and in good agreement with tectonic extension. On the contrary, along the Central and Southeast indian ridges, the seismicity is well correlated with the segmentation. Earthquakes cluster at segment ends and discontinuities whereas segment centres are mostly aseismic, except at hydrothermal sites on the Central Indian Ridge and one active segment on the Southeast Indian Ridge. Overall, segment-scale variations in the seismicity reflect the thermal state of the crust beneath the Central and Southeast Indian ridges whereas larger scale variations reveal changes in the mantle temperature under the Southwest Indian Ridge.

Le béluga du Saint-Laurent est une espèce menacée au Canada et protégée par la Loi sur les espèces en péril du Canada. La détermination des fonctions biologiques de ses habitats essentiels est nécessaire afin d’assurer le rétablissement de la population. Parcs Canada a entamé en 2009 un suivi des proies du béluga dans deux de ses aires de fréquentation intensive situées dans le Parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent : l’embouchure de la rivière Saguenay et la baie Sainte-Marguerite. L’étude de l’abondance et de la distribution des proies est réalisée par sondage hydroacoustique le long de transects à l’aide d’un échosondeur multifréquences. Un protocole d’observations systématiques du béluga est mené simultanément aux sondages hydroacoustiques à partir de sites terrestres. Le premier objectif de cette étude est de développer la méthodologie concernant le traitement, la classification et la cartographie des données hydroacoustiques échantillonnées. L’objectif principal consiste à déterminer si l’abondance et la distribution des proies pélagiques ont une influence sur l’utilisation de ces deux habitats par le béluga. La cartographie de la biomasse relative de poissons a été réalisée pour la couche de surface, la couche en profondeur et pour l’ensemble de la colonne d’eau par krigeage ordinaire pour les deux habitats pour les 29 transects. À la baie Sainte-Marguerite, le nombre de bélugas observés augmente avec la biomasse relative des proies en surface et en profondeur. À l’embouchure de la rivière Saguenay, les résultats n’ont pas été concluants. Les résultats suggèrent que l’alimentation pourrait être l’une des fonctions biologiques de la baie Sainte-Marguerite. / The St. Lawrence beluga is a threatened species in Canada and protected by the Species at Risk Act in Canada. Determining the biological functions of its critical habitat is needed to ensure the recovery of the population. Parks Canada began in 2009 a monitoring of beluga preys in two of its areas of intensive use located in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park: the Saguenay River mouth and the Sainte-Marguerite bay. The study of the abundance and distribution of prey is achieved by hydroacoustic survey along transects using a multifrequency echo sounder. A systematic observation protocol of the beluga is conducted simultaneously with hydroacoustic surveys from land-based stations. The first objective of this study is to develop the methodology for the processing, classification and mapping of these hydroacoustic data. The main objective is to determine whether the abundance and distribution of pelagic prey influence the use of these two habitats by beluga. The mapping of the fish relative biomass was conducted for the surface layer, the depth layer and the entire water column by ordinary kriging for the two habitats for the 29 transects. At Sainte-Marguerite bay, the number of whales observed increases with fish relative biomass in the surface and deep layers. At the Saguenay River mouth, the results are not conclusive. The results suggest that feeding may be one of the biological functions of the Sainte-Marguerite bay.

Le béluga du Saint-Laurent est une espèce menacée au Canada et protégée par la Loi sur les espèces en péril du Canada. La détermination des fonctions biologiques de ses habitats essentiels est nécessaire afin d’assurer le rétablissement de la population. Parcs Canada a entamé en 2009 un suivi des proies du béluga dans deux de ses aires de fréquentation intensive situées dans le Parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent : l’embouchure de la rivière Saguenay et la baie Sainte-Marguerite. L’étude de l’abondance et de la distribution des proies est réalisée par sondage hydroacoustique le long de transects à l’aide d’un échosondeur multifréquences. Un protocole d’observations systématiques du béluga est mené simultanément aux sondages hydroacoustiques à partir de sites terrestres. Le premier objectif de cette étude est de développer la méthodologie concernant le traitement, la classification et la cartographie des données hydroacoustiques échantillonnées. L’objectif principal consiste à déterminer si l’abondance et la distribution des proies pélagiques ont une influence sur l’utilisation de ces deux habitats par le béluga. La cartographie de la biomasse relative de poissons a été réalisée pour la couche de surface, la couche en profondeur et pour l’ensemble de la colonne d’eau par krigeage ordinaire pour les deux habitats pour les 29 transects. À la baie Sainte-Marguerite, le nombre de bélugas observés augmente avec la biomasse relative des proies en surface et en profondeur. À l’embouchure de la rivière Saguenay, les résultats n’ont pas été concluants. Les résultats suggèrent que l’alimentation pourrait être l’une des fonctions biologiques de la baie Sainte-Marguerite. / The St. Lawrence beluga is a threatened species in Canada and protected by the Species at Risk Act in Canada. Determining the biological functions of its critical habitat is needed to ensure the recovery of the population. Parks Canada began in 2009 a monitoring of beluga preys in two of its areas of intensive use located in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park: the Saguenay River mouth and the Sainte-Marguerite bay. The study of the abundance and distribution of prey is achieved by hydroacoustic survey along transects using a multifrequency echo sounder. A systematic observation protocol of the beluga is conducted simultaneously with hydroacoustic surveys from land-based stations. The first objective of this study is to develop the methodology for the processing, classification and mapping of these hydroacoustic data. The main objective is to determine whether the abundance and distribution of pelagic prey influence the use of these two habitats by beluga. The mapping of the fish relative biomass was conducted for the surface layer, the depth layer and the entire water column by ordinary kriging for the two habitats for the 29 transects. At Sainte-Marguerite bay, the number of whales observed increases with fish relative biomass in the surface and deep layers. At the Saguenay River mouth, the results are not conclusive. The results suggest that feeding may be one of the biological functions of the Sainte-Marguerite bay.

Le saumon atlantique (Salmo salar) est une espèce tant emblématique que menacée à l’échelle internationale, au même titre que la plupart des espèces de poissons diadromes. La présence de barrages, en entraînant une rupture de la continuité écologique des cours d’eau, participe à ce déclin. Le remplacement du barrage en porte à flot sur l’estuaire du Couesnon (Normandie, France) par un barrage procédant à des lâchers d’eau à l’étale de basse mer, est susceptible d’impacter l’abondance et la dynamique migratoire des saumons. Pour étudier les remontées de saumons adultes sur ce fleuve, un échosondeur à faisceau partagé a été installé en amont du barrage et a enregistré en continu tous les passages de saumons lors des périodes estivales de 2010 à 2014. L’hydroacoustique, méthode non intrusive et indépendante des conditions de turbidité de l’eau, permet l’acquisition d’informations difficilement accessibles par d’autres techniques. Pour évaluer la réelle influence du barrage sur les migraticours d’eau voisin dont l’estuaire est libre, à l’aide d’un outil hydroacoustique bénéficiant de larges innovations technologiques, une caméra acoustique DIDSON. Les méthodologies développées soulignent les avantages et les limites des deux outils, mettant en lumière le gain d’information apporté par les caméras acoustiques. L’interprétation des résultats met en évidence que si le fonctionnement du barrage n’impacte pas le maintien de la population sur ce fleuve, la dynamique migratoire des saumons y est modifiée. Cette étude souligne les grandes capacités d’adaptation des saumons atlantique / The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is as emblematic as in a global decline, as most of the diadromous fish species. Dams have direct consequences on the river ecological continuity and indirect effects, such as the modification of the hydrological and hydrosedimentary dynamics which affects these populations. In Normandy (France), the Couesnon River’s estuary flood-gate dam has recently been replaced by a new dam proceeding to water releases at low tide stall. This functioning may decrease the salmon abundance or disturb their migration dynamic on this river. To study the dam influence, a split-beam echosounder has been settled upstream the dam and has recorded Philippe BOëTpermanently the salmon migrations during the summer period from 2010 to 2014. The hydroacoustic methods, non-intrusive and independent from the turbidity conditions, provide useful information, neither available nor quantifiable with other existing monitoring technics. To evaluate the disturbance of the estuarine damthe migration dynamic of the same species has also been monitored on a nearby river, the Sélune River, whose estuary is free-flowing. The hydroacoustic tool settled on this river, a DIDSON, belongs to the acoustic camera generation and benefits from recent technological improvements. The defined methodologies highlight the advantages and limits of both tools, revealing the information gain brought by the acoustic cameras. A dam functioning influence on the Atlantic salmon migration has been revealed, but no negative impact has been described on the salmon annual recruitment level. This study

No description available.