A técnica geofísica da eletrorresistividade adaptada para ambientes aquáticos, com a tecnologia que hoje temos à disposição, mostra-se bastante promissora e de grande produtividade tanto na coleta dos dados de campo como no reconhecimento de feições de interesse do substrato, possibilitando ainda a liberdade de se adquirir tais informações em perfis subaquáticos contínuos em quaisquer trechos navegáveis de rios e lagos e, eventualmente de mares. Neste contexto, esta dissertação abordou a aplicabilidade desta técnica, com a utilização de modernos equipamentos e acessórios adaptados para trabalhos em lâmina d\'água, onde foram executados e estudados os procedimentos de campo, processamentos e integração dos dados coletados, além da verificação da consistência dos resultados obtidos através da realização de linhas de estudos paralelas e também ortogonais. Os testes de aplicação da técnica foram realizados nas águas do rio São Francisco, mais precisamente em seu trecho que faz divisa dos estados da Bahia e Pernambuco, região nordeste do Brasil, local este que também tem sido objeto de estudos para o Projeto do Aproveitamento Hidrelétrico Riacho Seco, pertencentes à empresa Companhia Hidro Elétrica do São Francisco (CHESF), responsável por diversos estudos e desenvolvimentos desta região, notadamente dos recursos hídricos do baixo São Francisco. Os trabalhos de campo lançaram mão do uso de embarcação para transportar e arrastar, na superfície da água, um cabo multi-eletrodo de imageamento geoelétrico, especialmente desenvolvido para tais fins, bem como todos os equipamentos integrados a saber: equipamento GPS de navegação em ambientes aquáticos, eco-batímetro de dupla freqüência adaptado na embarcação, eletrorresistivímetro multicanal e notebook com software específico para o gerenciamento de todas as operações e dados. Os resultados mostraram que foi possível mapear a fisiografia do leito do rio bem como identificar e delimitar anomalias geofísicas compatíveis a prováveis ocorrências de depósitos de sedimentos assim como feições típicas de contatos litológicos e mesmo de estruturas do tipo alteração/fraturamento no interior dos materiais do subfundo do rio. / The electric tomography geophysical technique adapted for aquatic environment, with the modern technology available nowadays, reveals itself sufficiently promising and of great productivity both in the field data collection and in the recognition of aspects of interest of the substratum. It is possible to make the data acquiring in any navigable stretches of rivers, lakes and some seas. In this context, this paper approached the applicability of this technique, with the use of modern equipment and accessories for works in the water. The field procedures, the data processing and integration of the data collection are discussed considering the acquisition of a great amount of data both parallel and orthogonal to the river. The application tests of the technique were conducted in the river San Francisco, in the region of the border of the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, northeast region of Brazil. This area was selected because it has been subject of studies to install a hydroelectric plant (Riacho Seco), owned by the Companhia Hidro Elétrica do São Francisco (CHESF). To perform the field works a boat was used to carry and drag, in the surface of the water, a multi-electrode cable of electric tomography, especially developed for such purposes, as well as all the integrated equipment namely: GPS especially designed for navigation in aquatic environments, adapted fathometer of double frequency in the boat, multichannel eletrorresistivímeter and notebook with specific software that managed all the operations and data. The results had shown that it was possible to map the fisiography of the riverbed as well as identifying and delimiting geophysical anomalies compatible to the probable occurrences of deposits of sediments as well as typical lithologic contacts and structures like weathering and fractures in the underground materials in the bottom of the river.

The southern Chandeleur Islands are an ideal setting to study shoal evolution given their history of submergence and re-emergence. Here, numerical models shed light on the attendant processes contributing to shoal recovery/reemergence following a destructive storm event. Simulations of a synthetic winter storm along a cross-shore profile using Xbeach shows that convergence of wave-induced sediment transport associated with repeated passage of cold-fronts initiates aggradation, but does not lead to reemergence. A Delft3d model of the entire island chain shows that as these landforms aggrade alongshore processes driven by incident wave refraction on the shoal platform, backbarrier circulation and resulting transport become increasingly important for continued aggradation and eventual emergence. Aggradation magnitudes are a function of depth ranging from 2 – 10 mm per event (onset to recovery to near mean sea level). In the absence of big storms, this modest aggradation can be more than one meter in a few years.

Phreatic overgrowths on speleothems (POS) are one of many sea-level proxies available to Quaternary geologists in Mallorca; these carbonate encrustations form at the air-water interface in cave passages flooded with brackish water. POS are ideal for reconstruction of western Mediterranean sea level because they are widespread in Mallorca's caves, can be precisely dated by U-series methods, constrain sea-level stands to sub-meter elevation, and are well preserved and accessible in the subterranean environment. This research investigates the POS depositional environment, which is relatively understudied compared to the other proxies used for sea-level reconstructions. This disparity has led to assumptions on many aspects of the POS precipitation. Further, POS are typically composed of calcite, but sometimes the metastable polymorph aragonite is present instead. Two caves were studied because of the presence of a modern POS horizon of aragonite and calcite: Cova des Pas de Vallgornera (Vallgornera) and Coves del Drac (Drac), respectively. High-resolution air and water physical parameters were collected for the first time, along with monthly water samples for stable isotope and elemental analysis. This 16-month record was supplemented with detailed geochemical studies throughout the project, including water-column profiles and CO2 sampling campaigns. The water level in both caves preserves the semi-diurnal Mediterranean Sea tide signal, with a lag of approximately four hours. The fluctuation in both caves is slightly attenuated, and the direct effects of barometric pressure and precipitation could not be discerned from the primary control of tidal pumping. Calculations based on salinity and isotope analysis show that less than 20% of the solution in each cave is seawater. Degassing of CO2 from the cave water to air was documented at both locations, with sporadic calcium carbonate supersaturation. These conditions are strongly dependent on annual cave ventilation, which becomes active during winter when cold, dense tropospheric air sinks into the subsurface. In addition to seasonal thermo-circulation, fluctuating water level displaces cave air and likely initiates tropospheric exchange throughout the year. This process primarily occurs through fissures in thin overlying bedrock at Vallgornera and through the large entrance in Drac. Higher elemental ratios (Mg:Ca, Sr:Ca, Mg:Sr) known to enhance aragonite precipitation or inhibit calcite precipitation were recorded in Vallgornera's water. A linear correlation with salinity was not observed, so higher ratios in Vallgornera must be contributed from differences in lithology, bedrock weathering intensity, or nearby rising thermal waters. In summary, this research confirms POS strengths as sea-level proxies from geochemical and hydrological perspectives. These carbonate encrustations are precipitated at the air-water interface, which fluctuates as an attenuated expression of Mediterranean Sea tide. Degassing of CO2 from the cave water to air, which promotes calcium carbonate supersaturation, is the major control on POS deposition, and is facilitated by winter ventilation and likely water-level fluctuations. CO2 degassing (and theoretically precipitation of POS) in isotopic equilibrium is possible in caves with restricted ventilation (small/sealed entrances, small passages). Aragonite may be precipitated instead of calcite because of local modifications to the geochemical system from bedrock weathering or contributions from deep groundwater.

O Campo de Miranga, localizado no Compartimento Central da Bacia do Recôncavo, é um importante produtor de óleo e gás. As rochas reservatório portadoras de hidrocarbonetos aqui apresentadas constituem-se de corpos arenosos gerados por fluxos gravitacionais subaquosos intercalados por folhelhos e pertencem a Formação Maracangalha (depositada no Cretáceo Inferior). Com a descrição de 775 m de testemunhos, definiu-se 8 fácies deposicionais e 6 deformacionais para o intervalo estudado. O agrupamento de fácies em conjuntos que apresentam feições estruturais e genéticas similares permitiu a proposição de Associações de Fácies cujas interpretações são: AF1 - lobos turbidíticos distais; AF2 - canais e/ou lobos turbidíticos arenosos; AF3 - franjas de sistemas turbidíticos conglomeráticos; AF4 - deslizamentos ou regiões proximais de escorregamentos; AF5 - porções mais deformadas de corpos de deslizamentos a escorregamentos; AF6 - escorregamentos altamente móveis, plásticos a fluxos de detritos. Foi definido um datum na porção intermediária da formação constituído por uma espessa seção pelítica. Depósitos distais da AF6 dominam a porção basal do intervalo estudado e são sucedidos verticalmente (em direção ao datum) por intercalações entre turbiditos (AF2) e escorregamentos (AF5). Imediatamente acima do datum ocorrem níveis conglomeráticos (AF3) que são sucedidos verticalmente por um domínio onde se intercalam deslizamentos (AF4), escorregamentos (AF5) e turbiditos (AF2), definindose uma grande sucessão progradacional para a Formação Maracangalha na área estudada. O disparo desses fluxos provavelmente associa-se a movimentação de falhas durante estágio sin-rifte responsáveis por intensa sismicidade e remobilização de frentes deltaicas. Um mecanismo auxiliar associa-se ao intenso diapirismo argilocinético. A conectividade lateral rastreada em seções sísmicas é baixa e os melhores reservatórios do campo são os representantes da AF4 e AF2. Por critérios preditivos é possível determinar os intervalos mais propícios para a ocorrência desses corpos. / The Miranga Field, which is located in the Central Compartment of Reconcavo Basin, is an important oil and gas producer. The bearing hydrocarbon reservoirs presented here are composed of sand bodies generated by subaqueous gravity flows inserted between shales, belonging to the Maracangalha Formation (deposited during the Lower Cretaceous). Through the description of 775 m well cores, 8 depositional and 6 deformational facies were defined for the interval studied. These facies were grouped together according to structural and genetic characteristics making it possible to define Facies Associations with the following interpretations: AF1 - distal portions of turbidite lobes; AF2 - channels and/or sandy turbidite lobes; AF3 - borders of conglomeratic turbidite systems; AF4 - slides or proximal parts of slumps; AF5 - distal portions of the slides bodies or slumps; AF6 - highly mobile slumps to debris flows. A datum was chosen in the middle portion of Maracangalha Formation which consists of thick layer of shale. Distal deposits (AF6) dominate the basal portion of interval studied and they are succeeded vertically (toward to the datum) by layers interbedded between turbidites (AF2) and slump deposits (AF5). Immediately above the datum, conglomeratic intervals (AF3) occur and they are succeeded vertically by layers interbedded between slides (AF4), slumps (AF5) and turbidites (AF2), defining a great progradational succession to Maracangalha Formation in the studied area. Trigger mechanisms responsible for the genesis of gravitational flows are probably associated with faults activities during the syn-rift stage which led to intense seismic activity and caused the destabilization of sediments in delta fronts. An alternative cause for triggering may have been intense diapiric shale movements. The lateral connectivity traced in seismic sections is low and the sand bodies that should constitute the best reservoirs in this field belong to AF4 and AF2 categories. It is possible to determine the most favorable intervals for the occurrence of these sand bodies using predictive criteria.

O Campo de Miranga, localizado no Compartimento Central da Bacia do Recôncavo, é um importante produtor de óleo e gás. As rochas reservatório portadoras de hidrocarbonetos aqui apresentadas constituem-se de corpos arenosos gerados por fluxos gravitacionais subaquosos intercalados por folhelhos e pertencem a Formação Maracangalha (depositada no Cretáceo Inferior). Com a descrição de 775 m de testemunhos, definiu-se 8 fácies deposicionais e 6 deformacionais para o intervalo estudado. O agrupamento de fácies em conjuntos que apresentam feições estruturais e genéticas similares permitiu a proposição de Associações de Fácies cujas interpretações são: AF1 - lobos turbidíticos distais; AF2 - canais e/ou lobos turbidíticos arenosos; AF3 - franjas de sistemas turbidíticos conglomeráticos; AF4 - deslizamentos ou regiões proximais de escorregamentos; AF5 - porções mais deformadas de corpos de deslizamentos a escorregamentos; AF6 - escorregamentos altamente móveis, plásticos a fluxos de detritos. Foi definido um datum na porção intermediária da formação constituído por uma espessa seção pelítica. Depósitos distais da AF6 dominam a porção basal do intervalo estudado e são sucedidos verticalmente (em direção ao datum) por intercalações entre turbiditos (AF2) e escorregamentos (AF5). Imediatamente acima do datum ocorrem níveis conglomeráticos (AF3) que são sucedidos verticalmente por um domínio onde se intercalam deslizamentos (AF4), escorregamentos (AF5) e turbiditos (AF2), definindose uma grande sucessão progradacional para a Formação Maracangalha na área estudada. O disparo desses fluxos provavelmente associa-se a movimentação de falhas durante estágio sin-rifte responsáveis por intensa sismicidade e remobilização de frentes deltaicas. Um mecanismo auxiliar associa-se ao intenso diapirismo argilocinético. A conectividade lateral rastreada em seções sísmicas é baixa e os melhores reservatórios do campo são os representantes da AF4 e AF2. Por critérios preditivos é possível determinar os intervalos mais propícios para a ocorrência desses corpos. / The Miranga Field, which is located in the Central Compartment of Reconcavo Basin, is an important oil and gas producer. The bearing hydrocarbon reservoirs presented here are composed of sand bodies generated by subaqueous gravity flows inserted between shales, belonging to the Maracangalha Formation (deposited during the Lower Cretaceous). Through the description of 775 m well cores, 8 depositional and 6 deformational facies were defined for the interval studied. These facies were grouped together according to structural and genetic characteristics making it possible to define Facies Associations with the following interpretations: AF1 - distal portions of turbidite lobes; AF2 - channels and/or sandy turbidite lobes; AF3 - borders of conglomeratic turbidite systems; AF4 - slides or proximal parts of slumps; AF5 - distal portions of the slides bodies or slumps; AF6 - highly mobile slumps to debris flows. A datum was chosen in the middle portion of Maracangalha Formation which consists of thick layer of shale. Distal deposits (AF6) dominate the basal portion of interval studied and they are succeeded vertically (toward to the datum) by layers interbedded between turbidites (AF2) and slump deposits (AF5). Immediately above the datum, conglomeratic intervals (AF3) occur and they are succeeded vertically by layers interbedded between slides (AF4), slumps (AF5) and turbidites (AF2), defining a great progradational succession to Maracangalha Formation in the studied area. Trigger mechanisms responsible for the genesis of gravitational flows are probably associated with faults activities during the syn-rift stage which led to intense seismic activity and caused the destabilization of sediments in delta fronts. An alternative cause for triggering may have been intense diapiric shale movements. The lateral connectivity traced in seismic sections is low and the sand bodies that should constitute the best reservoirs in this field belong to AF4 and AF2 categories. It is possible to determine the most favorable intervals for the occurrence of these sand bodies using predictive criteria.

A técnica geofísica da eletrorresistividade adaptada para ambientes aquáticos, com a tecnologia que hoje temos à disposição, mostra-se bastante promissora e de grande produtividade tanto na coleta dos dados de campo como no reconhecimento de feições de interesse do substrato, possibilitando ainda a liberdade de se adquirir tais informações em perfis subaquáticos contínuos em quaisquer trechos navegáveis de rios e lagos e, eventualmente de mares. Neste contexto, esta dissertação abordou a aplicabilidade desta técnica, com a utilização de modernos equipamentos e acessórios adaptados para trabalhos em lâmina d\'água, onde foram executados e estudados os procedimentos de campo, processamentos e integração dos dados coletados, além da verificação da consistência dos resultados obtidos através da realização de linhas de estudos paralelas e também ortogonais. Os testes de aplicação da técnica foram realizados nas águas do rio São Francisco, mais precisamente em seu trecho que faz divisa dos estados da Bahia e Pernambuco, região nordeste do Brasil, local este que também tem sido objeto de estudos para o Projeto do Aproveitamento Hidrelétrico Riacho Seco, pertencentes à empresa Companhia Hidro Elétrica do São Francisco (CHESF), responsável por diversos estudos e desenvolvimentos desta região, notadamente dos recursos hídricos do baixo São Francisco. Os trabalhos de campo lançaram mão do uso de embarcação para transportar e arrastar, na superfície da água, um cabo multi-eletrodo de imageamento geoelétrico, especialmente desenvolvido para tais fins, bem como todos os equipamentos integrados a saber: equipamento GPS de navegação em ambientes aquáticos, eco-batímetro de dupla freqüência adaptado na embarcação, eletrorresistivímetro multicanal e notebook com software específico para o gerenciamento de todas as operações e dados. Os resultados mostraram que foi possível mapear a fisiografia do leito do rio bem como identificar e delimitar anomalias geofísicas compatíveis a prováveis ocorrências de depósitos de sedimentos assim como feições típicas de contatos litológicos e mesmo de estruturas do tipo alteração/fraturamento no interior dos materiais do subfundo do rio. / The electric tomography geophysical technique adapted for aquatic environment, with the modern technology available nowadays, reveals itself sufficiently promising and of great productivity both in the field data collection and in the recognition of aspects of interest of the substratum. It is possible to make the data acquiring in any navigable stretches of rivers, lakes and some seas. In this context, this paper approached the applicability of this technique, with the use of modern equipment and accessories for works in the water. The field procedures, the data processing and integration of the data collection are discussed considering the acquisition of a great amount of data both parallel and orthogonal to the river. The application tests of the technique were conducted in the river San Francisco, in the region of the border of the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, northeast region of Brazil. This area was selected because it has been subject of studies to install a hydroelectric plant (Riacho Seco), owned by the Companhia Hidro Elétrica do São Francisco (CHESF). To perform the field works a boat was used to carry and drag, in the surface of the water, a multi-electrode cable of electric tomography, especially developed for such purposes, as well as all the integrated equipment namely: GPS especially designed for navigation in aquatic environments, adapted fathometer of double frequency in the boat, multichannel eletrorresistivímeter and notebook with specific software that managed all the operations and data. The results had shown that it was possible to map the fisiography of the riverbed as well as identifying and delimiting geophysical anomalies compatible to the probable occurrences of deposits of sediments as well as typical lithologic contacts and structures like weathering and fractures in the underground materials in the bottom of the river.

O Campo de Miranga, localizado no Compartimento Central da Bacia do Recôncavo, é um importante produtor de óleo e gás. As rochas reservatório portadoras de hidrocarbonetos aqui apresentadas constituem-se de corpos arenosos gerados por fluxos gravitacionais subaquosos intercalados por folhelhos e pertencem a Formação Maracangalha (depositada no Cretáceo Inferior). Com a descrição de 775 m de testemunhos, definiu-se 8 fácies deposicionais e 6 deformacionais para o intervalo estudado. O agrupamento de fácies em conjuntos que apresentam feições estruturais e genéticas similares permitiu a proposição de Associações de Fácies cujas interpretações são: AF1 - lobos turbidíticos distais; AF2 - canais e/ou lobos turbidíticos arenosos; AF3 - franjas de sistemas turbidíticos conglomeráticos; AF4 - deslizamentos ou regiões proximais de escorregamentos; AF5 - porções mais deformadas de corpos de deslizamentos a escorregamentos; AF6 - escorregamentos altamente móveis, plásticos a fluxos de detritos. Foi definido um datum na porção intermediária da formação constituído por uma espessa seção pelítica. Depósitos distais da AF6 dominam a porção basal do intervalo estudado e são sucedidos verticalmente (em direção ao datum) por intercalações entre turbiditos (AF2) e escorregamentos (AF5). Imediatamente acima do datum ocorrem níveis conglomeráticos (AF3) que são sucedidos verticalmente por um domínio onde se intercalam deslizamentos (AF4), escorregamentos (AF5) e turbiditos (AF2), definindose uma grande sucessão progradacional para a Formação Maracangalha na área estudada. O disparo desses fluxos provavelmente associa-se a movimentação de falhas durante estágio sin-rifte responsáveis por intensa sismicidade e remobilização de frentes deltaicas. Um mecanismo auxiliar associa-se ao intenso diapirismo argilocinético. A conectividade lateral rastreada em seções sísmicas é baixa e os melhores reservatórios do campo são os representantes da AF4 e AF2. Por critérios preditivos é possível determinar os intervalos mais propícios para a ocorrência desses corpos. / The Miranga Field, which is located in the Central Compartment of Reconcavo Basin, is an important oil and gas producer. The bearing hydrocarbon reservoirs presented here are composed of sand bodies generated by subaqueous gravity flows inserted between shales, belonging to the Maracangalha Formation (deposited during the Lower Cretaceous). Through the description of 775 m well cores, 8 depositional and 6 deformational facies were defined for the interval studied. These facies were grouped together according to structural and genetic characteristics making it possible to define Facies Associations with the following interpretations: AF1 - distal portions of turbidite lobes; AF2 - channels and/or sandy turbidite lobes; AF3 - borders of conglomeratic turbidite systems; AF4 - slides or proximal parts of slumps; AF5 - distal portions of the slides bodies or slumps; AF6 - highly mobile slumps to debris flows. A datum was chosen in the middle portion of Maracangalha Formation which consists of thick layer of shale. Distal deposits (AF6) dominate the basal portion of interval studied and they are succeeded vertically (toward to the datum) by layers interbedded between turbidites (AF2) and slump deposits (AF5). Immediately above the datum, conglomeratic intervals (AF3) occur and they are succeeded vertically by layers interbedded between slides (AF4), slumps (AF5) and turbidites (AF2), defining a great progradational succession to Maracangalha Formation in the studied area. Trigger mechanisms responsible for the genesis of gravitational flows are probably associated with faults activities during the syn-rift stage which led to intense seismic activity and caused the destabilization of sediments in delta fronts. An alternative cause for triggering may have been intense diapiric shale movements. The lateral connectivity traced in seismic sections is low and the sand bodies that should constitute the best reservoirs in this field belong to AF4 and AF2 categories. It is possible to determine the most favorable intervals for the occurrence of these sand bodies using predictive criteria.

Reconstruction of volcanic processes in the Komárov Complex: case from the Zaječov volcanic centre Summary Sheet lava flows with pillow breccias and hyaloclastites are interbedded agglomerate and volcaniclastics. This is the basic interpretation of rocks exposed in quarry near the town Zaječov. Rocks are part of geological area called Barrandien. Resediment volcaniclastic particles were transfer by sediment gravity flows. Agglomerates were deposited from volcaniclastic debris flow and fine grain volcanoclastics sediments from turbidity currents or hyperconcentrated flows. These types of flows named as eruption-fed aqueous density current are directly initiated by subaqueous volcanic eruption. One volcaniclastics strata set on the south wall of quarry was formed from subaquatic eruption plume, called steam copula. Steam copula created under the eruptive vent is water exclusion zone. Accretion lapilli can be formed in this zone if the copula is stable for a longer time. Accretion lapilli were generally considered to be able to form only in subaerial conditions, during the phreatomagmatic eruption till lately. Rocks exposed in quarry were probably formed during the Surtseyan eruption in shallow subaqueous setting. According to thin section lava flows are containing pseudomorphosis phenocrysts of olivine and...

Cette thèse traite de la forme et de la mobilité des dunes dans l’eau sous un écoulement turbulent. L’état d’équilibre des dunes en régime stationnaire puis le retour à l’équilibre après un changement de sens de l’écoulement sont caractérisés. On examine la variation des paramètres de forme (hauteur, longueur, rapport d’aspect) et de la vitesse de migration des dunes en fonction de la masse du sédiment m0 et de la vitesse de l’écoulement. Cette étude est menée expérimentalement dans un chenal fermé et étroit et les résultats sont comparés aux prédictions d'un modèle de dunes 2D tenant compte du processus de relaxation du transport. À l’équilibre, ce modèle prédit suivant la masse de la dune un régime « petite dune » et un régime « grande dune » où la hauteur est proportionnelle respectivement à m0 et à √m0. Un régime de transition où la hauteur est fonction de m0 à une puissance comprise entre 0,5 et 1 les sépare. Ces régimes sont identiques à ceux prédits par le modèle de Kroy et al. (2002) pour les barkhanes éoliennes. Expérimentalement, seuls les régimes de transition et « grande dune » sont observés. Cet accord permet d’évaluer la longueur de saturation du transport. Le résultat obtenu est cohérent avec la longueur de dépôt proposée par Lajeunesse et al. (2010). Pour le retour à l’état d’équilibre suite au changement du sens de l’écoulement, deux scénarios transitoires sont observés. Le premier est une contraction suivie d’une élongation de la dune. Le second présente une contraction supplémentaire liée à une élongation de la dune au-delà de sa longueur d'équilibre initiale. Dans ces deux cas, le temps de retour à l’équilibre n’est pas proportionnel à la masse de la dune. / This thesis deals with the morphodynamics of subaqueous dunes under a turbulent flow. The equilibrium State of the dunes under stationary flow, and then the return to equilibrium state after a change in the flow direction are characterized. The variation of the shape parameters (height, length, aspect ratio) and the migration speed of dunes are examined as a function of the mass m0 of sediment and the flow rate. This study is conducted experimentally into a narrow, closed flume and the results are compared to predictions of a 2D dune model that takes into account the transport relaxation process. For steady dunes, this model predicts a "small dune" and a "large dune" régime where the dune height respectively increases as m0 and √m0. These regimes are separated by a transitional régime where the dune height is proportional to m0 with an exponent ranging from 0.5 to 1. These régimes are identical to those predicted by the model of Kroy et al. (2002) for æolian barchans.Experimentally, the steady dunes range from the “transition” to the "large dune" régime as the mass increases. This agreement allows to assess the saturation length of the transport. The result is consistent with the deposition length proposed by Lajeunesse et al. (2010). Concerning the return to the steady-state shape after changing in the flow direction, two transient scenarios are identified. The first one is a contraction followed by an elongation of the dune shape. In the second one, there is an additional contraction phase associated with an elongation of the dune beyond its initial equilibrium length. For either scenarios, the return-to equilibrium time is not proportional to the mass of the dune.