Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sources and sinks of sediment to the Amazon margin: The Amapa coast

  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Modern and Holocene muddy strata were studied along the shoreline adjacent to the Amazon river mouth using sedimentological, radiochemical, physical, and seismic methods. The present paper is a synthesis of the results, collected during the AmasSeds project, that is used to outline a regional shoreline sediment budget. Erosion of relict Amazon muds in southern Amapa supplies 106 tons yr−1 to the Amazon advective mud stream. Local rivers are sediment-poor (total suspended discharge ~ 1 × 106 tons yr−1), but form depositional sandflats on the shoreface downdrift of the river mouths. Mudflat accumulation in northern Amapa sequesters 106–107 tons yr−1 by tidal-flat aggradation, alongshore mudcape accretion, and sediment trapping by mangroves. The processes temporarily store 1.5 × 108 tons of Amazon mud in January–June.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison MA, Nittrouer CA, Kineke GC, and Sternberg RW (1994) Use of an instrumented tripod system to examine sediment dynamics and fine-scale strata formation in muddy surfzone and nearshore environments. Journal of Coastal Research 10:488–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison MA, Nittrouer CA, and Faria LEC Jr (1995a) Rates and mechanisms of shore face progradation and retreat downdrift of the Amazon river mouth. Marine Geology 125:373–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison MA, Nittrouer CA, and Kineke GC (1995b) Seasonal sediment storage on mudflats adjacent to the Amazon River. Marine Geology 125:303–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Beardsley RC, Candela J, Limeburner R, Geyer WR, Lentz S, Castro B, Cacchione D, and Carneiro N (1995) The M2 tide on the Amazon shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research 100:2283–2319

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkman R and Pons LJ (1968) A pedo-geomorphological classification and map of the Holocene sediments in the coastal plain of the three Guianas. Soil Survey 4. Soil Survey Institute, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisma D and van der Marel HW (1971) Marine muds along the Guyana Coast and their origin from the Amazon Basin. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 31:321–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisma D, Augustinus PGEF, and Alexander CR (1991) Recent and subrecent changes in the dispersal of Amazon mud. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 28:181–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Faria LEC Jr, Mendes AC, and Silveira OFM (1993) The erosion of the Amapa coast—a local process or an indication of the Holocene sea-level rise (Flandrian transgression) in the north of Brazil? Simposio AmasSeds, Inst. Geociencias-UFF, Niteroi Brazil. p 17

    Google Scholar 

  • Froidefond JM, Pujos M, and Andre X (1988) Migration of mud banks and changing coastline in French Guiana. Marine Geology 84:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Kineke GC, Sternberg RW, Trowbridge JH, and Geyer WR (1996) Fluid-mud processes on the Amazon continental shelf. Continental Shelf Research 16

  • Kuehl SA, DeMaster DJ, and Nittrouer CA (1986) Nature of sediment accumulation on the Amazon continental shelf. Continental Shelf Research 6:209–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz S (1995a) Seasonal variations in the horizontal structure of the Amazon plume inferred from historical hydrographic data. Journal of Geophysical Research 100:2391–2400

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz S (1995b) The Amazon River plume during AmasSeds: Subtidal current variability and the importance of wind forcing. Journal of Geophysical Research 100:2377–2390

    Google Scholar 

  • Meade RH, Dunne T, Richey JE, Santos UM, and Salati E (1985) Storage and remobilization of suspended sediment in the lower Amazon River of Brazil. Science 228:488–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendes AC and Faria LEC Jr (1993) Sedimentological and stratigraphical studies of the Holocene of the Amapa coast. Simposio AmasSeds, Inst. Geociencias-UFF, Niteroi, Brazil. p 32

    Google Scholar 

  • Nittrouer CA, Curtin TB, and DeMaster DJ (1986) Concentration and flux of suspended sediment on the Amazon continental shelf. Continental Shelf Research, 6:151–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Nittrouer CA, DeMaster DJ, Figueiredo AG, and Rine JM (1991) AmasSeds: An interdisciplinary investigation of a complex coastal environment. Oceanography 4:3–7

    Google Scholar 

  • RADAM (1974) Projecto Levantamento de Recursos Naturais. 6:Amapa. Ministerio dasa Minas e Energia, Rio de Janeiro

  • Silveira OFM, Faria LEC Jr, Nittrouer CA, Allison MA, and Mendes AC (1993) The Amapa coastal plain. Preliminary results. Simposio AmasSeds, Inst. Geociencias-UFF, Niteroi, Brazil. p 47

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells JT and Coleman JM (1981) Periodic mudflat progradation, northeastern coast of South America: A hypothesis. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 51:1069–1075

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. A. Allison

    Present address: Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, 77551, Galveston, Texas, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York, 11794-5000, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    M. A. Allison & C. A. Nittrouer

  2. PROMAR, Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Para, Av. Perimetral s/n, 66050, Belem-Para, Brazil

    L. E. C. Faria Jr., O. M. Silveira & A. C. Mendes

Authors
  1. M. A. Allison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. A. Nittrouer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. E. C. Faria Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. O. M. Silveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. C. Mendes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Allison, M.A., Nittrouer, C.A., Faria, L.E.C. et al. Sources and sinks of sediment to the Amazon margin: The Amapa coast. Geo-Marine Letters 16, 36–40 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01218836

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01218836

Keywords

Search

Navigation