Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: TIAGO RAFAEL DE BARROS PEREIRA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : TIAGO RAFAEL DE BARROS PEREIRA
DATE: 15/12/2025
TIME: 15:00
LOCAL: Sala 1 - PPGG
TITLE:

Morphological Characterization and Geoacoustic Interpretation of the Rio Grande do Norte Plateau and Adjacent Areas

KEY WORDS:

Rio Grande do Norte Plateau; Submarine morphology; Submarine canyons; Sedimentary dynamics.

PAGES: 58
BIG AREA: Ciências Exatas e da Terra
AREA: Geociências
SUMMARY:

The Rio Grande do Norte Plateau, located in a transitional zone between the continental shelf and slope (70–3,500 m isobaths), and its adjacent drainages are the focus of this study. The area, situated north of Natal (RN) and extending toward the onset of the Brazilian equatorial margin, lies within the geological framework of the Potiguar Basin. This research aims to characterize the seafloor morphology and subbottom structure, identifying key geomorphological features and the processes governing sediment dynamics. Multibeam bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and high-resolution seismic data were acquired during a 2023 expedition aboard the hydro-oceanographic vessel Vital de Oliveira and processed using CARIS, SonarWiz, and Global Mapper software. The integrated analysis reveals a heterogeneous seafloor divided into morphologically distinct sectors. Twenty-three submarine canyons were mapped, displaying V- and U-shaped profiles, sinuosity, and slope gradients indicative of combined erosional and depositional processes. Within the canyons, additional features such as channels, mass-transport deposits, landslide scars, terraces, and gullies were identified. Slope mapping indicates critical instability zones, particularly in the northern sector, where inclinations exceed 50°. Backscatter mosaics highlight acoustic reflectivity contrasts related to substrate roughness and sediment grain size variations. Seismic profiles show well defined sedimentary units with concordant stacking patterns across most of the plateau top, suggesting low-energy and continuous sedimentation. Buried paleochannels and erosional surfaces were also identified, likely associated with eustatic fluctuations during the Quaternary

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - ANDRÉ GISKARD AQUINO DA SILVA
Presidente - 2218779 - HELENICE VITAL
Externa à Instituição - JÚLIA CARVALHO LANNES GALVÃO FONSECA
Externa à Instituição - MARIA ALINE LISNIOWSKI - SGB
Externo à Instituição - THIAGO AUGUSTO BEZERRA FERREIRA