The Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)is a key atmospheric system on a global scale,primarily driven by trade wind convergence near the equator.The ITCZ plays a crucial role in modulating the climate of the borders ...The Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)is a key atmospheric system on a global scale,primarily driven by trade wind convergence near the equator.The ITCZ plays a crucial role in modulating the climate of the borders of tropical continental areas.For instance,Northeastern Brazil experiences a climate influenced by the ITCZ over the Atlantic Ocean.In some periods,the ITCZ exhibits double bands,known as the double ITCZ.While the features of the ITCZ have been described using various approaches and atmospheric variables,there is still a lack of regional studies focusing on the ITCZ and double ITCZ in the Atlantic Ocean.In this context,the main goals of this study are(1)to describe a simple algorithm based on precipitation to identify the ITCZ and double ITCZ,(2)to present a climatology(1997-2022)of the position,width,and intensity of these two convective bands,and(3)to investigate variabilities in the ITCZ characteristics associated with anomalies of sea surface temperature(SST)in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans.The double ITCZ typically occurs southward of the main cloud band,and between February and April,both bands are more distant(~4.5°).In the western sector of the Atlantic Ocean,the ITCZ and its double band extend to more southerly latitudes in austral autumn.Considering the entire Atlantic basin,the annual mean of the latitudinal position,width,and intensity of the ITCZ is 4.9°N,4.2°,and 11 mm/day,respectively,while for the double ITCZ,it is 0.4°N,2.6°,10.3 mm/day,respectively.While the SST anomalies in the Pacific Ocean(El Niño and La Niña episodes)affect more the ITCZ width,the SST anomalies in the Tropical South Atlantic affect both its position and width.展开更多
Understanding the potential vertical distribution of bigeye tuna(Thunnus obesus) is necessary to understand the catch rate fluctuations and the stock assessment of bigeye tuna. To characterize the potential vertical d...Understanding the potential vertical distribution of bigeye tuna(Thunnus obesus) is necessary to understand the catch rate fluctuations and the stock assessment of bigeye tuna. To characterize the potential vertical distribution of this fish while foraging and determine the influences of the distribution on longline efficiency in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, the catch per unit effort(CPUE) data were compiled from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and the Argo buoy data were downloaded from the Argo data center. The raw Argo buoy data were processed by data mining methods. The CPUE was standardized by support vector machine before analysis. We assumed the depths with the upper and lower limits of the optimum water temperatures of 15℃ and 9℃ as the preferred swimming depth, while the lower limit of the temperature(12℃) associated with the highest hooking rate as the preferred foraging depth(D12) of bigeye tuna during the daytime in the Atlantic Ocean. The preferred swimming depth and foraging depth range in the daytime were assessed by plotting the isobath based on Argo buoy data. The preferred swimming depth and vertical structure of the water column were identified to investigate the spatial effects on the CPUE by using a generalized additive model(GAM). The empirical cumulative distribution function was used to assess the relationship between the spatial distribution of CPUE and the depth of 12℃ isolines and thermocline. The results indicate that 1) the preferred swimming depth of bigeye tuna in the tropical Atlantic is from 100 m to 400 m and displays spatial variation;2) the preferred foraging depth of bigeye tuna is between 190 and 300 m and below the thermocline;3) the number of CPUEs peaks at a relative depth of 30 –50 m(difference between the 12℃ isolines and the lower boundary of the thermocline);and 4) most CPUEs are within the lower depth boundary of the thermocline levels(LDBT) which is from 160 m to 230 m. GAM analysis indicates that the general relationship between the nominal CPUE and LDBT is characterized by a dome shape and peaks at approximately 190 m. The oceanographic features influence the habitat of tropical pelagic fish and fisheries. Argo buoy data can be an important tool to describe the habitat of oceanic fish. Our results provide new insights into how oceanographic features influence the habitat of tropical pelagic fish and fisheries and how fisheries exploit these fish using a new tool(Argo profile data).展开更多
A shallow subtidal (3 m deep) meiofaunal assemblage in Los Abrigos Bay, Tenerife, Canary Islands was sam- pled during May 2000-April 2001. The main aims were to (1) find temporal variations in meiofaunal assem- bl...A shallow subtidal (3 m deep) meiofaunal assemblage in Los Abrigos Bay, Tenerife, Canary Islands was sam- pled during May 2000-April 2001. The main aims were to (1) find temporal variations in meiofaunal assem- blage structure and overall abundance, as well as in the most abundant meiofaunal species throughout the study period, and (2) identify environmental variables (sedimentary composition, organic matter content, and total nitrogen) that better explain meiofaunal assemblage structure during the study year. The most abundant species were the nematodes Siphonolaimus sp. 2 and Catanema sp., which represented 46.2% of the overall meiofaunal abundances and varied significantly throughout the study duration. Overall meio- faunal abundance and the most abundant taxonomic groups (nematodes, copepods, and oligochaetes) showed significant temporal variations during the study period. Nematodes overwhelmingly dominated during the study period, ranging from 78% in May to 97.34% in February. Multivariate analyses showed seasonality in meiofaunal community structure during the study year, with the lowest abundances in May. Keywords: Meiofauna, assemblage structure, subtidal, Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean展开更多
Here we investigate the ocean-atmosphere coupling and the contribution of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations in: 1) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region, 2) Southwest Atlantic Ocean and 3) Southern Brazil...Here we investigate the ocean-atmosphere coupling and the contribution of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations in: 1) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region, 2) Southwest Atlantic Ocean and 3) Southern Brazil. Numerical simulations of the ECHAM5/MPI-OM coupled ocean-atmosphere model were used to analyze the changes in the seasonal trajectory of the extratropical cyclones, in terms of intensification of physical mechanisms and implications for future scenarios. The numerical experiment for the future scenario considered an atmospheric CO2 concentration of approximately 770 ppm, which represents an increment of more than 350 ppm over the current values recorded by the Mauna Loa reference station. For this scenario, the results indicated a Storm Tracks (ST) displacement of 5° latitude toward south and changes of the meridional transport of sensible heat, close to 50°S. The increase in SST induces ST intensification and consequently an increase in the occurrence of extratropical cyclones. Overall, in the BMC region, we found a change in the pattern of cyclogenetic activity occurrence, with less frequent, but more intense events. On the Southern Brazilian region, the results of this study indicate increases in rainfall during summer months, whereas, a decrease in frequency and an increase in intensity were found for wintertime. We suggest that these changes could impact the climate dynamic of the Brazilian South coast, with a magnitude yet unknown.展开更多
This work is an attempt to diagnose the turbu-lence field of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean dur-ing the dry period when the mixed layer is more highly developed using the General Ocean Turbulence Model (GOTM). A relaxa...This work is an attempt to diagnose the turbu-lence field of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean dur-ing the dry period when the mixed layer is more highly developed using the General Ocean Turbulence Model (GOTM). A relaxation scheme assimilates the vertical profiles of in situ ob-servations (current velocity, sea temperature and salinity) during simulations. In the absence of direct turbulence observations and modeling studies of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, the results are compared qualitatively to observed and simulated results for the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Similarities are noted between the At-lantic simulation and previous studies per-formed in the Pacific Ocean. The mechanism of nocturnal turbulence production, namely deep- cycle turbulence, is well captured by GOTM si-mulations. This deep nocturnal turbulence ap-pears rather suddenly during the night in the simulations and consequently seems to be un-related to surface wind and radiation forcing.展开更多
On April 27,2016,a striking true-color satellite image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)onboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s(NASA’s)Aqua satellite showed sev...On April 27,2016,a striking true-color satellite image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)onboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s(NASA’s)Aqua satellite showed several groups of very well structured arc cloud patterns(Fig.1),which are associaed with atmospheric gravity waves,aligned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean between展开更多
We developed an approach that integrates generalized additive model(GAM) and neural network model(NNM)for projecting the distribution of Argentine shortfin squid(Illex argentinus). The data for this paper was ba...We developed an approach that integrates generalized additive model(GAM) and neural network model(NNM)for projecting the distribution of Argentine shortfin squid(Illex argentinus). The data for this paper was based on commercial fishery data and relevant remote sensing environmental data including sea surface temperature(SST), sea surface height(SSH) and chlorophyll a(Chl a) from January to June during 2003 to 2011. The GAM was used to identify the significant oceanographic variables and establish their relationships with the fishery catch per unit effort(CPUE). The NNM with the GAM identified significant variables as input vectors was used for predicting spatial distribution of CPUE. The GAM was found to explain 53.8% variances for CPUE. The spatial variables(longitude and latitude) and environmental variables(SST, SSH and Chl a) were significant. The CPUE had nonlinear relationship with SST and SSH but a linear relationship with Chl a. The NNM was found to be effective and robust in the projection with low mean square errors(MSE) and average relative variances(ARV).The integrated approach can predict the spatial distribution and explain the migration pattern of Illex argentinus in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.展开更多
Analysis of Argo float trajectories at 1 000 m and temperature at 950 m in the North Atlantic between November 2003 and January 2005 demonstrates the existence of two different circulation modes with fast transition b...Analysis of Argo float trajectories at 1 000 m and temperature at 950 m in the North Atlantic between November 2003 and January 2005 demonstrates the existence of two different circulation modes with fast transition between them. Each mode has a pair of cyclonic - anticyclonic gyres. The difference is the location of the cyclonic gyre. The cyclonic gyre stretches from southeast to northwest in the first mode and from the southwest to the northeast in the second mode. The observed modes strongly affect the heat and salt transport in the North Atlantic. In particular, the second mode slows down the westward transport of the warm and saline water from the Mediterranean Sea.展开更多
Changes of air–sea coupling in the North Atlantic Ocean over the 20 th century are investigated using reanalysis data,climate model simulations, and observational data. It is found that the ocean-to-atmosphere feedba...Changes of air–sea coupling in the North Atlantic Ocean over the 20 th century are investigated using reanalysis data,climate model simulations, and observational data. It is found that the ocean-to-atmosphere feedback over the North Atlantic is significantly intensified in the second half of the 20 th century. This coupled feedback is characterized by the association between the summer North Atlantic Horseshoe(NAH) SST anomalies and the following winter North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO). The intensification is likely associated with the enhancement of the North Atlantic storm tracks as well as the NAH SST anomalies. Our study also reveals that most IPCC AR4 climate models fail to capture the observed NAO/NAH coupled feedback.展开更多
Based on air-sea observations and reanalysis data,the numerical simulation and diagnostic analysis of typical Atlantic TC cases during 2010-2015 were carried out,and the influence of thermodynamic factors in air-sea e...Based on air-sea observations and reanalysis data,the numerical simulation and diagnostic analysis of typical Atlantic TC cases during 2010-2015 were carried out,and the influence of thermodynamic factors in air-sea exchange and atmospheric environment field on TC intensity was quantitatively calculated.TC was considered as a cylinder with a minimum pressure as the center and a radius of 300 km extending from sea level to 100 hPa,and the input and output of heat at each boundary of TC were quantitatively calculated.In order to understand the heat contribution of Atlantic TC during its development,the heat input at each boundary of 18 Atlantic TC cases was analyzed to study the main heat sources promoting TC strengthening.The results show that the heat directly from the atmosphere was the main source of heat during TC development.Due to the errors in the selection and calculation of data,one of Atlantic TC cases was selected for simulation verification at last,and the simulation results reveal that the simulated TC was in good agreement with the actual observed TC.展开更多
Abundances of the fireworm Hermodice carunculata were counted through a monitoring assessment study of fish cages in Barranco Hondo(NE Tenerife). Seven campaigns were conducted from November 2007 to June 2010 and te...Abundances of the fireworm Hermodice carunculata were counted through a monitoring assessment study of fish cages in Barranco Hondo(NE Tenerife). Seven campaigns were conducted from November 2007 to June 2010 and temporal variations were found, as well as differences among sampling stations. The polychaete H. carunculata obtained its highest abundance in sediments beneath fish cages throughout the study period. Thus, the assemblages of this omnivorous species were favoured by the presence of fish cages.展开更多
Precipitation isotope ratios(O and H)record the history of water phase transitions and fractionation processes during moisture transport and rainfall formation.Here,we evaluated the isotopic composition of precipitati...Precipitation isotope ratios(O and H)record the history of water phase transitions and fractionation processes during moisture transport and rainfall formation.Here,we evaluated the isotopic composition of precipitation over the central-southeastern region of Brazil at different timescales.Monthly isotopic compositions were associated with classical effects(rainfall amount,seasonality,and continentality),demonstrating the importance of vapor recirculation processes and different regional atmospheric systems(South American Convergence Zone-SACZ and Cold Fronts-CF).While moisture recycling and regional atmospheric processes may also be observed on a daily timescale,classical effects such as the amount effect were not strongly correlated(δ^(18)O-precipitation rate r≤-0.37).Daily variability revealed specific climatic features,such asδ^(18)O depleted values(~-6‰to-8‰)during the wet season were associated with strong convective activity and large moisture availability.Daily isotopic analysis revealed the role of different moisture sources and transport effects.Isotope ratios combined with d-excess explain how atmospheric recirculation processes interact with convective activity during rainfall formation processes.Our findings provide a new understanding of rainfall sampling timescales and highlight the importance of water isotopes to decipher key hydrometeorological processes in a complex spatial and temporal context in central-southeastern Brazil.展开更多
<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Chimaeras</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, fish in the order Chimaerif...<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Chimaeras</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, fish in the order Chimaeriformes, are among the rarest and least studied fish in the class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish). Previous records have indicated that a species of chimaera known as the elephantfish, or cockfish, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Callorhinchus callorynchus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, may be found in marine waters off southeastern Brazil, as far north as the state of S<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"">ã</span>o Paulo. Here we report that </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">C. callorynchus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, caught with bottom gillnet, was found in an urban fish market in the city of Rio de Janeiro (~23<span style="white-space:nowrap;">˚</span>S). This and other records from a variety of places call into question the distribution limits of the American elephantfish in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and whether, at least seasonally, this species may often be found as far north as the state of Rio de Janeiro. Because of scientific and conservation interests in the poorly known Chimaeriformes, we recommend long-term monitoring of the fish catch in ports along the southern Brazilian coast, to better understand the natural history of the intriguing chimeras.</span></span>展开更多
This study has allowed to classify the marine macroalgae from the intertidal zone on the Atlantic side of Cap Estérias (Gabon). This area has a rich biodiversity but very few studies in the knowledge of benthic m...This study has allowed to classify the marine macroalgae from the intertidal zone on the Atlantic side of Cap Estérias (Gabon). This area has a rich biodiversity but very few studies in the knowledge of benthic macroalgae have been done. The first study on the knowledge of the algae of the Gabonese coast was made in February 1974 by John and Lawson. This article has been revised to transcribe books and our study would aim to update the existing collection. The algae census is spread over a year from August 2020 to August 2021 and is the first detailed study carried out over a year, with regard to this part of the Gabonese coast. This study has allowed to know the specific diversity, to determine the structure of the flora and its spread out over time. The results show a significant algal diversity of thirty five (35) identified species. Three classes of macroalgae were determined and the percentage of species in the class (%EC): Floridaophyceae at 50% EC, Phaeophyceae at 30% EC and Ulvophyceae at 20% EC. The red algae are the most common in the area with sixteen (16) species determined against twelve (12) species of brown algae and seven (7) species of green algae. The Phaeophyceae class presents the Dictyotaceae family which is the most diverse with 7 species found. Some species seen appear in the collection of John et al., but others are new species encountered in Gabon such as Caulerpa sertularioides, Bryopsis plumosa (two Ulvophytes), Padina arborescens which is a Pheophyte and Galaxaura filamentosa, Digenea simplex,Hildenbrandia rubra, Asparagopsis armata and Caulacanthus ustulatus which are Rhodophytes. Some species are permanently present, they are found in all seasons but with significant abundance from July to September.展开更多
This work presents the climatology of the microphysics and the dynamics of weather systems in two coastal areas of São Paulo and the Espírito States at high spatial-temporal resolution as measured by two...This work presents the climatology of the microphysics and the dynamics of weather systems in two coastal areas of São Paulo and the Espírito States at high spatial-temporal resolution as measured by two dual Doppler weather radars during the summer and early fall of 2015. Averages and respective standard deviations of polarimetric variables, namely, reflectivity (Z), differential reflectivity (Z<sub>DR</sub>), differential phase (ϕ<sub>DP</sub>), specific differential phase (K<sub>DP</sub>), copolar correlation coefficient (ρ<sub>oHV</sub>), radial velocity (V<sub>r</sub>), and the spectral width (W) were obtained within a 240-km range on plan position indicator (PPI), constant altitude plan position indicator (CAPPI) and vertical cross-sections to analyze overall horizontal and vertical precipitation microphysics and mesoscale circulation of prevailing weather systems, and their peculiarities over coastal and oceanic, and urban and rural areas. Overall, raindrops tend to be larger over the Metropolitan area of São Paulo from the surface to up to 6 km altitude indicating more vigorous updrafts caused by the heat island effect and the local sea breeze. The vertical microphysical structure is remarkably distinct over the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) where thunderstorms can reach 20-km altitude in summertime under sea breeze and heat island effects. On the other hand, there is a dominancy of smaller drop sizes though larger ones observed close to the surface by the coast of Espírito Santo and at the land-ocean interface influenced by the local low-level jet and oceanic-type CCN. Convective cells tend to be smaller associated with Easterlies and more organized with Westerlies. The results indicate distinct features on hydrometeor types and circulation characteristics under these different surface and boundary-layer conditions in close agreement with previous results in the literature.展开更多
Multiple source provenance of sediments and submarine fan formation are herein investigated based on Quaternary sandy barriers of the Brazilian Southernmost Coastal Plain.LA-ICP-MS dating on 1625 detrital zircons from...Multiple source provenance of sediments and submarine fan formation are herein investigated based on Quaternary sandy barriers of the Brazilian Southernmost Coastal Plain.LA-ICP-MS dating on 1625 detrital zircons from marine and aeolian facies sands of four successive lagoon-barrier systems are analyzed.The characterization of Archean to Pleistocene zircons into a younger Andean(22±4 Ma to 1±1 Ma,48 from 1625),Mesozoic to Paleozoic,and Mesoproterozoic(479 from 1622)populations suggest that the main feeding of sediments to the coastal plain occurred through the La Plata River drainage system.The significant contribution of sediments is transported from the mouth of La Plata River northward by longshore circulation(littoral drift).Minor contributions are also recognized as.a farther source associatedwith the Patagonia drainage and nearby source related to the Uruguay/Rio Grande do Sul Shield and the ParanáBasin,drained by the Camaquãand Jacuírivers.The latter one is recognized by the contribution fromNeoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic,and some Paleoproterozoic and Archean zircon grains.The definition of the sources of clastic sediments allows inferences about the origination of Rio Grande Fan where both the cold Falkland and the warm Brazil currents played a major role.展开更多
Using the data of ECMWF (European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) to undertake composite diagnoses of 16 explosive cyclones occurring at the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans,it is found that there are a lot ...Using the data of ECMWF (European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) to undertake composite diagnoses of 16 explosive cyclones occurring at the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans,it is found that there are a lot of obvious discrepancies on the basic fields between these strong and weak explosive cyclones.The major reasons why the explosive cyclones over the Atlantic are stronger than those over the Pacific Ocean are that the non-zonal upper jet and the low-level warm moist flow over the Atlantic are stronger.The non-zonal upper jet offers stronger divergence,baroclinicity and baroclinic instability fields for explosive cyclones.Anticyclonic curvature at the high level of strong explosive cyclones is easy to make the inertia-gravitational wave developing at the moment of northward transfer of energy and stimulate the cyclones deepening quickly.Warm advection and diabatic heating can cause the upper isobaric surface lifting,as a result,the anticyclone curvature of cyclones enlarges,and wave energy develops easily as well.The most powerful period of the development of explosive cyclones is just the time when the positive vorticity advection center is located over the low vortex.At the upper level,when the distribution of potential vorticity contours changes suddenly from rareness to denseness,and the large values of the potential vorticity both in the west and north sides of cyclones extend downwards together,then cyclones are easy to explosively develop.The formation of strong explosive cyclones is closely related with the non-zonality of upper jet and the anticyclonic curvature.展开更多
Utilizing the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis monthly datasets,and based on the filter and standard deviation calculation,the interannual variability of sea surface temperature(SST)and 1000 hPa wind field for the tropical Pacifi...Utilizing the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis monthly datasets,and based on the filter and standard deviation calculation,the interannual variability of sea surface temperature(SST)and 1000 hPa wind field for the tropical Pacific,Indian and Atlantic Oceans is investigated for the past 20 years (1979—1998).The characters of space-time evolution in SST anomalies(SSTA)for each ocean and corresponding wind anomaly field are acquired by using rotated principal component(RPC) and linear regression analysis methods.Using the method of correlation analysis.the characters of three tropical oceans correlated with ENSO are investigated.The contemporary correlation between the SSTA in the Indian Ocean and in the equatorial eastern Pacific is positive,and there is a weak negative correlation between the SSTA in the equatorial east Atlantic Ocean and in the equatorial eastern Pacific.The lead-lag correlation analysis indicates that the SSTA in the equatorial Indian Ocean lags the dominant Pacific ENSO mode by 3 months,and the SSTA in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean leads ENSO mode by 6 months.The ENSO-correlated components in tropical Indian Ocean and tropical Atlantic Ocean display much the same amount of total variance in each ocean,i.e..14% in the Indian Ocean and 12% in the Atlantic Ocean and the maximums are all above 40%.展开更多
Objective:To study the digenean parasites of the prosobranch gastropods,Littorina littorea(L.littorea)and Gibbula umbilicalis(G.umbilicalis)from rocky shores of the Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal.Methods:A total ...Objective:To study the digenean parasites of the prosobranch gastropods,Littorina littorea(L.littorea)and Gibbula umbilicalis(G.umbilicalis)from rocky shores of the Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal.Methods:A total of 413 L.littorea and 2603 G.umbilicalis were collected from rocky shores,at Aveiro estuary,Aguda Beach,and Foz Beach at Porto(Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal)from January to July 2014 and February 2014 to January 2015,respectively.Gonads and digestive glands of the gastropods were examined under light microscopy for the presence of digeneans.Infected gonads of L.littorea were prepared for histological observation,whereas digeneans found in G.umbilicalis were studied and identified with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy.Results:Two species of digeneans were found infecting the digestive gland and gonads of G.umbilicalis,namely,Cainocreadium labracis and Lecithochirium furcolabiatum with a combined prevalence of 3%.Histological observations of gonads of L.littorea revealed the infection with digeneans,with considerable replacement of gonadal tissues.These digeneans were not identified to species level.The prevalence of digeneans in this snail host was 0.7%.Conclusions:The present study adds G.umbilicalis as another first intermediate host for Cainocreadium labracis and extends its geographical range to the Portuguese Atlantic coast.Cercariae of Lecithochirium furcolabiatum were previously reported from G.umbilicalis.A literature review of digeneans occurring in the gastropod genera Gibbula and Littorina is given.展开更多
The Gabon Coastal Basin is a typical saliferous basin located in the middle portion of the West African passive continental margin. Complex salt tectonics make sedimentary sequences and structural frameworks difficult...The Gabon Coastal Basin is a typical saliferous basin located in the middle portion of the West African passive continental margin. Complex salt tectonics make sedimentary sequences and structural frameworks difficult to interpret and can lead to difficulties in construction of balanced cross-sections and reconstruction of basin evolutionary processes. Sedimentary facies and salt structur- al patterns displaying zonation are based on seismic reflection profiles and drilling data. Two near-vertical fault systems, NW-SE and NE-SW, caused basin to be subdivided E-W zoning and N-S partitioning. Scarp slopes and extension faults formed in the Hinge belt III zone where salt diapir piercement occurred and numbers of salt pillars, salt stocks and salt rollers developed under transten- sion of coupled near-orthogonal fault systems. The zone east of Hinge belt III is characterized by small-scale salt domes and salt pillows. To the west are large-scale salt walls and salt bulge anticlines caused by diapirism promoted by tension and torsion that also resulted in formation of numerous salt pillars, salt stocks and salt rollers. Our modeling of salt tectonic structures indicates that they were produced by plastic rheological deformation of salt under regional stress fields that varied during three distinct phases of extension, compression and re-activation. Hinge belt III was active from Coniacian to Early Eocene, which was a critical period of formation of salt structures when many extension-related salt structures formed and salt diapirism controlled the distribution of turbidite fans. Rootless extrusion-related salt stocks developed throughout the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene as a result of lo- cal ephemeral low-intensity tectonic inversion. Post Oligocene salt diapirism was weak and salt tecton- ics had a weak influence on sedimentation. Balanced cross-sections of two saliferous horizons crossing different tectonic units from east to west reveal that the basin tectonic evolution and sediment filling processes can be divided into three stages containing seven episodes of rifting, transition and drifting.展开更多
基金This research was funded by Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas(CNPq),Fundação de AmparoàPesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais(FAPEMIG)and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES).
文摘The Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)is a key atmospheric system on a global scale,primarily driven by trade wind convergence near the equator.The ITCZ plays a crucial role in modulating the climate of the borders of tropical continental areas.For instance,Northeastern Brazil experiences a climate influenced by the ITCZ over the Atlantic Ocean.In some periods,the ITCZ exhibits double bands,known as the double ITCZ.While the features of the ITCZ have been described using various approaches and atmospheric variables,there is still a lack of regional studies focusing on the ITCZ and double ITCZ in the Atlantic Ocean.In this context,the main goals of this study are(1)to describe a simple algorithm based on precipitation to identify the ITCZ and double ITCZ,(2)to present a climatology(1997-2022)of the position,width,and intensity of these two convective bands,and(3)to investigate variabilities in the ITCZ characteristics associated with anomalies of sea surface temperature(SST)in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans.The double ITCZ typically occurs southward of the main cloud band,and between February and April,both bands are more distant(~4.5°).In the western sector of the Atlantic Ocean,the ITCZ and its double band extend to more southerly latitudes in austral autumn.Considering the entire Atlantic basin,the annual mean of the latitudinal position,width,and intensity of the ITCZ is 4.9°N,4.2°,and 11 mm/day,respectively,while for the double ITCZ,it is 0.4°N,2.6°,10.3 mm/day,respectively.While the SST anomalies in the Pacific Ocean(El Niño and La Niña episodes)affect more the ITCZ width,the SST anomalies in the Tropical South Atlantic affect both its position and width.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41606138)the Special Funds of Basic Research of Central Public Welfare Institute (Nos.2019T09, 2016Z01-02)+1 种基金the National Key Research and Development Project of China (No.2019YFD 0901405)the Fund of Key Laboratory of Open-Sea Fishery Development, Ministry of Agriculture, P.R.China (No.LOF2018-01)。
文摘Understanding the potential vertical distribution of bigeye tuna(Thunnus obesus) is necessary to understand the catch rate fluctuations and the stock assessment of bigeye tuna. To characterize the potential vertical distribution of this fish while foraging and determine the influences of the distribution on longline efficiency in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, the catch per unit effort(CPUE) data were compiled from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and the Argo buoy data were downloaded from the Argo data center. The raw Argo buoy data were processed by data mining methods. The CPUE was standardized by support vector machine before analysis. We assumed the depths with the upper and lower limits of the optimum water temperatures of 15℃ and 9℃ as the preferred swimming depth, while the lower limit of the temperature(12℃) associated with the highest hooking rate as the preferred foraging depth(D12) of bigeye tuna during the daytime in the Atlantic Ocean. The preferred swimming depth and foraging depth range in the daytime were assessed by plotting the isobath based on Argo buoy data. The preferred swimming depth and vertical structure of the water column were identified to investigate the spatial effects on the CPUE by using a generalized additive model(GAM). The empirical cumulative distribution function was used to assess the relationship between the spatial distribution of CPUE and the depth of 12℃ isolines and thermocline. The results indicate that 1) the preferred swimming depth of bigeye tuna in the tropical Atlantic is from 100 m to 400 m and displays spatial variation;2) the preferred foraging depth of bigeye tuna is between 190 and 300 m and below the thermocline;3) the number of CPUEs peaks at a relative depth of 30 –50 m(difference between the 12℃ isolines and the lower boundary of the thermocline);and 4) most CPUEs are within the lower depth boundary of the thermocline levels(LDBT) which is from 160 m to 230 m. GAM analysis indicates that the general relationship between the nominal CPUE and LDBT is characterized by a dome shape and peaks at approximately 190 m. The oceanographic features influence the habitat of tropical pelagic fish and fisheries. Argo buoy data can be an important tool to describe the habitat of oceanic fish. Our results provide new insights into how oceanographic features influence the habitat of tropical pelagic fish and fisheries and how fisheries exploit these fish using a new tool(Argo profile data).
文摘A shallow subtidal (3 m deep) meiofaunal assemblage in Los Abrigos Bay, Tenerife, Canary Islands was sam- pled during May 2000-April 2001. The main aims were to (1) find temporal variations in meiofaunal assem- blage structure and overall abundance, as well as in the most abundant meiofaunal species throughout the study period, and (2) identify environmental variables (sedimentary composition, organic matter content, and total nitrogen) that better explain meiofaunal assemblage structure during the study year. The most abundant species were the nematodes Siphonolaimus sp. 2 and Catanema sp., which represented 46.2% of the overall meiofaunal abundances and varied significantly throughout the study duration. Overall meio- faunal abundance and the most abundant taxonomic groups (nematodes, copepods, and oligochaetes) showed significant temporal variations during the study period. Nematodes overwhelmingly dominated during the study period, ranging from 78% in May to 97.34% in February. Multivariate analyses showed seasonality in meiofaunal community structure during the study year, with the lowest abundances in May. Keywords: Meiofauna, assemblage structure, subtidal, Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean
文摘Here we investigate the ocean-atmosphere coupling and the contribution of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations in: 1) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region, 2) Southwest Atlantic Ocean and 3) Southern Brazil. Numerical simulations of the ECHAM5/MPI-OM coupled ocean-atmosphere model were used to analyze the changes in the seasonal trajectory of the extratropical cyclones, in terms of intensification of physical mechanisms and implications for future scenarios. The numerical experiment for the future scenario considered an atmospheric CO2 concentration of approximately 770 ppm, which represents an increment of more than 350 ppm over the current values recorded by the Mauna Loa reference station. For this scenario, the results indicated a Storm Tracks (ST) displacement of 5° latitude toward south and changes of the meridional transport of sensible heat, close to 50°S. The increase in SST induces ST intensification and consequently an increase in the occurrence of extratropical cyclones. Overall, in the BMC region, we found a change in the pattern of cyclogenetic activity occurrence, with less frequent, but more intense events. On the Southern Brazilian region, the results of this study indicate increases in rainfall during summer months, whereas, a decrease in frequency and an increase in intensity were found for wintertime. We suggest that these changes could impact the climate dynamic of the Brazilian South coast, with a magnitude yet unknown.
文摘This work is an attempt to diagnose the turbu-lence field of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean dur-ing the dry period when the mixed layer is more highly developed using the General Ocean Turbulence Model (GOTM). A relaxation scheme assimilates the vertical profiles of in situ ob-servations (current velocity, sea temperature and salinity) during simulations. In the absence of direct turbulence observations and modeling studies of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, the results are compared qualitatively to observed and simulated results for the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Similarities are noted between the At-lantic simulation and previous studies per-formed in the Pacific Ocean. The mechanism of nocturnal turbulence production, namely deep- cycle turbulence, is well captured by GOTM si-mulations. This deep nocturnal turbulence ap-pears rather suddenly during the night in the simulations and consequently seems to be un-related to surface wind and radiation forcing.
文摘On April 27,2016,a striking true-color satellite image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)onboard National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s(NASA’s)Aqua satellite showed several groups of very well structured arc cloud patterns(Fig.1),which are associaed with atmospheric gravity waves,aligned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean between
基金The Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean under contract No.20155014the National Natural Science Fundation of China under contract No.NSFC31702343
文摘We developed an approach that integrates generalized additive model(GAM) and neural network model(NNM)for projecting the distribution of Argentine shortfin squid(Illex argentinus). The data for this paper was based on commercial fishery data and relevant remote sensing environmental data including sea surface temperature(SST), sea surface height(SSH) and chlorophyll a(Chl a) from January to June during 2003 to 2011. The GAM was used to identify the significant oceanographic variables and establish their relationships with the fishery catch per unit effort(CPUE). The NNM with the GAM identified significant variables as input vectors was used for predicting spatial distribution of CPUE. The GAM was found to explain 53.8% variances for CPUE. The spatial variables(longitude and latitude) and environmental variables(SST, SSH and Chl a) were significant. The CPUE had nonlinear relationship with SST and SSH but a linear relationship with Chl a. The NNM was found to be effective and robust in the projection with low mean square errors(MSE) and average relative variances(ARV).The integrated approach can predict the spatial distribution and explain the migration pattern of Illex argentinus in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.
基金The Naval Postgraduate School and the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Analysis of Argo float trajectories at 1 000 m and temperature at 950 m in the North Atlantic between November 2003 and January 2005 demonstrates the existence of two different circulation modes with fast transition between them. Each mode has a pair of cyclonic - anticyclonic gyres. The difference is the location of the cyclonic gyre. The cyclonic gyre stretches from southeast to northwest in the first mode and from the southwest to the northeast in the second mode. The observed modes strongly affect the heat and salt transport in the North Atlantic. In particular, the second mode slows down the westward transport of the warm and saline water from the Mediterranean Sea.
基金supported by a National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Innovation Team Project (Grant No. 40921004)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities (Grant No. 0900841261005)
文摘Changes of air–sea coupling in the North Atlantic Ocean over the 20 th century are investigated using reanalysis data,climate model simulations, and observational data. It is found that the ocean-to-atmosphere feedback over the North Atlantic is significantly intensified in the second half of the 20 th century. This coupled feedback is characterized by the association between the summer North Atlantic Horseshoe(NAH) SST anomalies and the following winter North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO). The intensification is likely associated with the enhancement of the North Atlantic storm tracks as well as the NAH SST anomalies. Our study also reveals that most IPCC AR4 climate models fail to capture the observed NAO/NAH coupled feedback.
文摘Based on air-sea observations and reanalysis data,the numerical simulation and diagnostic analysis of typical Atlantic TC cases during 2010-2015 were carried out,and the influence of thermodynamic factors in air-sea exchange and atmospheric environment field on TC intensity was quantitatively calculated.TC was considered as a cylinder with a minimum pressure as the center and a radius of 300 km extending from sea level to 100 hPa,and the input and output of heat at each boundary of TC were quantitatively calculated.In order to understand the heat contribution of Atlantic TC during its development,the heat input at each boundary of 18 Atlantic TC cases was analyzed to study the main heat sources promoting TC strengthening.The results show that the heat directly from the atmosphere was the main source of heat during TC development.Due to the errors in the selection and calculation of data,one of Atlantic TC cases was selected for simulation verification at last,and the simulation results reveal that the simulated TC was in good agreement with the actual observed TC.
基金To the company Cultivos Marinos del Atlántico SL for logistic facilities and financial support throughout the present study
文摘Abundances of the fireworm Hermodice carunculata were counted through a monitoring assessment study of fish cages in Barranco Hondo(NE Tenerife). Seven campaigns were conducted from November 2007 to June 2010 and temporal variations were found, as well as differences among sampling stations. The polychaete H. carunculata obtained its highest abundance in sediments beneath fish cages throughout the study period. Thus, the assemblages of this omnivorous species were favoured by the presence of fish cages.
基金funded by grants from the São Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP)under Process 2018/06666-4the International Atomic Energy Agency grant BRA-17984 under the initiative CRP-F31004“Stable isotopes in precipitation and paleoclimatic archives in tropical areas to improve regional hydrological and climatic impact models”+1 种基金BRA-23531 under the initiative CRP-F31006“Isotope Variability of Rain for Assessing Climate Change Impacts”FAPESP for the scholarship provided under the Process 2019/03467-3.
文摘Precipitation isotope ratios(O and H)record the history of water phase transitions and fractionation processes during moisture transport and rainfall formation.Here,we evaluated the isotopic composition of precipitation over the central-southeastern region of Brazil at different timescales.Monthly isotopic compositions were associated with classical effects(rainfall amount,seasonality,and continentality),demonstrating the importance of vapor recirculation processes and different regional atmospheric systems(South American Convergence Zone-SACZ and Cold Fronts-CF).While moisture recycling and regional atmospheric processes may also be observed on a daily timescale,classical effects such as the amount effect were not strongly correlated(δ^(18)O-precipitation rate r≤-0.37).Daily variability revealed specific climatic features,such asδ^(18)O depleted values(~-6‰to-8‰)during the wet season were associated with strong convective activity and large moisture availability.Daily isotopic analysis revealed the role of different moisture sources and transport effects.Isotope ratios combined with d-excess explain how atmospheric recirculation processes interact with convective activity during rainfall formation processes.Our findings provide a new understanding of rainfall sampling timescales and highlight the importance of water isotopes to decipher key hydrometeorological processes in a complex spatial and temporal context in central-southeastern Brazil.
文摘<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Chimaeras</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, fish in the order Chimaeriformes, are among the rarest and least studied fish in the class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish). Previous records have indicated that a species of chimaera known as the elephantfish, or cockfish, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Callorhinchus callorynchus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, may be found in marine waters off southeastern Brazil, as far north as the state of S<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"">ã</span>o Paulo. Here we report that </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">C. callorynchus</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, caught with bottom gillnet, was found in an urban fish market in the city of Rio de Janeiro (~23<span style="white-space:nowrap;">˚</span>S). This and other records from a variety of places call into question the distribution limits of the American elephantfish in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and whether, at least seasonally, this species may often be found as far north as the state of Rio de Janeiro. Because of scientific and conservation interests in the poorly known Chimaeriformes, we recommend long-term monitoring of the fish catch in ports along the southern Brazilian coast, to better understand the natural history of the intriguing chimeras.</span></span>
文摘This study has allowed to classify the marine macroalgae from the intertidal zone on the Atlantic side of Cap Estérias (Gabon). This area has a rich biodiversity but very few studies in the knowledge of benthic macroalgae have been done. The first study on the knowledge of the algae of the Gabonese coast was made in February 1974 by John and Lawson. This article has been revised to transcribe books and our study would aim to update the existing collection. The algae census is spread over a year from August 2020 to August 2021 and is the first detailed study carried out over a year, with regard to this part of the Gabonese coast. This study has allowed to know the specific diversity, to determine the structure of the flora and its spread out over time. The results show a significant algal diversity of thirty five (35) identified species. Three classes of macroalgae were determined and the percentage of species in the class (%EC): Floridaophyceae at 50% EC, Phaeophyceae at 30% EC and Ulvophyceae at 20% EC. The red algae are the most common in the area with sixteen (16) species determined against twelve (12) species of brown algae and seven (7) species of green algae. The Phaeophyceae class presents the Dictyotaceae family which is the most diverse with 7 species found. Some species seen appear in the collection of John et al., but others are new species encountered in Gabon such as Caulerpa sertularioides, Bryopsis plumosa (two Ulvophytes), Padina arborescens which is a Pheophyte and Galaxaura filamentosa, Digenea simplex,Hildenbrandia rubra, Asparagopsis armata and Caulacanthus ustulatus which are Rhodophytes. Some species are permanently present, they are found in all seasons but with significant abundance from July to September.
文摘This work presents the climatology of the microphysics and the dynamics of weather systems in two coastal areas of São Paulo and the Espírito States at high spatial-temporal resolution as measured by two dual Doppler weather radars during the summer and early fall of 2015. Averages and respective standard deviations of polarimetric variables, namely, reflectivity (Z), differential reflectivity (Z<sub>DR</sub>), differential phase (ϕ<sub>DP</sub>), specific differential phase (K<sub>DP</sub>), copolar correlation coefficient (ρ<sub>oHV</sub>), radial velocity (V<sub>r</sub>), and the spectral width (W) were obtained within a 240-km range on plan position indicator (PPI), constant altitude plan position indicator (CAPPI) and vertical cross-sections to analyze overall horizontal and vertical precipitation microphysics and mesoscale circulation of prevailing weather systems, and their peculiarities over coastal and oceanic, and urban and rural areas. Overall, raindrops tend to be larger over the Metropolitan area of São Paulo from the surface to up to 6 km altitude indicating more vigorous updrafts caused by the heat island effect and the local sea breeze. The vertical microphysical structure is remarkably distinct over the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) where thunderstorms can reach 20-km altitude in summertime under sea breeze and heat island effects. On the other hand, there is a dominancy of smaller drop sizes though larger ones observed close to the surface by the coast of Espírito Santo and at the land-ocean interface influenced by the local low-level jet and oceanic-type CCN. Convective cells tend to be smaller associated with Easterlies and more organized with Westerlies. The results indicate distinct features on hydrometeor types and circulation characteristics under these different surface and boundary-layer conditions in close agreement with previous results in the literature.
基金the Brazilian Scholarship Agency(CAPES) for the scholarship to the second author (JJC)the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development–CNPq for the financial support (grant#305053/2014-0).
文摘Multiple source provenance of sediments and submarine fan formation are herein investigated based on Quaternary sandy barriers of the Brazilian Southernmost Coastal Plain.LA-ICP-MS dating on 1625 detrital zircons from marine and aeolian facies sands of four successive lagoon-barrier systems are analyzed.The characterization of Archean to Pleistocene zircons into a younger Andean(22±4 Ma to 1±1 Ma,48 from 1625),Mesozoic to Paleozoic,and Mesoproterozoic(479 from 1622)populations suggest that the main feeding of sediments to the coastal plain occurred through the La Plata River drainage system.The significant contribution of sediments is transported from the mouth of La Plata River northward by longshore circulation(littoral drift).Minor contributions are also recognized as.a farther source associatedwith the Patagonia drainage and nearby source related to the Uruguay/Rio Grande do Sul Shield and the ParanáBasin,drained by the Camaquãand Jacuírivers.The latter one is recognized by the contribution fromNeoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic,and some Paleoproterozoic and Archean zircon grains.The definition of the sources of clastic sediments allows inferences about the origination of Rio Grande Fan where both the cold Falkland and the warm Brazil currents played a major role.
基金Supported by the Project of Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No.2001BA910A)
文摘Using the data of ECMWF (European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) to undertake composite diagnoses of 16 explosive cyclones occurring at the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans,it is found that there are a lot of obvious discrepancies on the basic fields between these strong and weak explosive cyclones.The major reasons why the explosive cyclones over the Atlantic are stronger than those over the Pacific Ocean are that the non-zonal upper jet and the low-level warm moist flow over the Atlantic are stronger.The non-zonal upper jet offers stronger divergence,baroclinicity and baroclinic instability fields for explosive cyclones.Anticyclonic curvature at the high level of strong explosive cyclones is easy to make the inertia-gravitational wave developing at the moment of northward transfer of energy and stimulate the cyclones deepening quickly.Warm advection and diabatic heating can cause the upper isobaric surface lifting,as a result,the anticyclone curvature of cyclones enlarges,and wave energy develops easily as well.The most powerful period of the development of explosive cyclones is just the time when the positive vorticity advection center is located over the low vortex.At the upper level,when the distribution of potential vorticity contours changes suddenly from rareness to denseness,and the large values of the potential vorticity both in the west and north sides of cyclones extend downwards together,then cyclones are easy to explosively develop.The formation of strong explosive cyclones is closely related with the non-zonality of upper jet and the anticyclonic curvature.
基金Supported by the Doctoral Start-up Foundation Project in Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences.
文摘Utilizing the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis monthly datasets,and based on the filter and standard deviation calculation,the interannual variability of sea surface temperature(SST)and 1000 hPa wind field for the tropical Pacific,Indian and Atlantic Oceans is investigated for the past 20 years (1979—1998).The characters of space-time evolution in SST anomalies(SSTA)for each ocean and corresponding wind anomaly field are acquired by using rotated principal component(RPC) and linear regression analysis methods.Using the method of correlation analysis.the characters of three tropical oceans correlated with ENSO are investigated.The contemporary correlation between the SSTA in the Indian Ocean and in the equatorial eastern Pacific is positive,and there is a weak negative correlation between the SSTA in the equatorial east Atlantic Ocean and in the equatorial eastern Pacific.The lead-lag correlation analysis indicates that the SSTA in the equatorial Indian Ocean lags the dominant Pacific ENSO mode by 3 months,and the SSTA in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean leads ENSO mode by 6 months.The ENSO-correlated components in tropical Indian Ocean and tropical Atlantic Ocean display much the same amount of total variance in each ocean,i.e..14% in the Indian Ocean and 12% in the Atlantic Ocean and the maximums are all above 40%.
基金supported by the“Direcção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas do Centro,Divisão de Investimentos de Aveiro”,Portugal,under project“Probur”(Grant No.31-03-05-FEP-0039).
文摘Objective:To study the digenean parasites of the prosobranch gastropods,Littorina littorea(L.littorea)and Gibbula umbilicalis(G.umbilicalis)from rocky shores of the Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal.Methods:A total of 413 L.littorea and 2603 G.umbilicalis were collected from rocky shores,at Aveiro estuary,Aguda Beach,and Foz Beach at Porto(Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal)from January to July 2014 and February 2014 to January 2015,respectively.Gonads and digestive glands of the gastropods were examined under light microscopy for the presence of digeneans.Infected gonads of L.littorea were prepared for histological observation,whereas digeneans found in G.umbilicalis were studied and identified with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy.Results:Two species of digeneans were found infecting the digestive gland and gonads of G.umbilicalis,namely,Cainocreadium labracis and Lecithochirium furcolabiatum with a combined prevalence of 3%.Histological observations of gonads of L.littorea revealed the infection with digeneans,with considerable replacement of gonadal tissues.These digeneans were not identified to species level.The prevalence of digeneans in this snail host was 0.7%.Conclusions:The present study adds G.umbilicalis as another first intermediate host for Cainocreadium labracis and extends its geographical range to the Portuguese Atlantic coast.Cercariae of Lecithochirium furcolabiatum were previously reported from G.umbilicalis.A literature review of digeneans occurring in the gastropod genera Gibbula and Littorina is given.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Fundation of China(Nos.40839902 and 40739901)
文摘The Gabon Coastal Basin is a typical saliferous basin located in the middle portion of the West African passive continental margin. Complex salt tectonics make sedimentary sequences and structural frameworks difficult to interpret and can lead to difficulties in construction of balanced cross-sections and reconstruction of basin evolutionary processes. Sedimentary facies and salt structur- al patterns displaying zonation are based on seismic reflection profiles and drilling data. Two near-vertical fault systems, NW-SE and NE-SW, caused basin to be subdivided E-W zoning and N-S partitioning. Scarp slopes and extension faults formed in the Hinge belt III zone where salt diapir piercement occurred and numbers of salt pillars, salt stocks and salt rollers developed under transten- sion of coupled near-orthogonal fault systems. The zone east of Hinge belt III is characterized by small-scale salt domes and salt pillows. To the west are large-scale salt walls and salt bulge anticlines caused by diapirism promoted by tension and torsion that also resulted in formation of numerous salt pillars, salt stocks and salt rollers. Our modeling of salt tectonic structures indicates that they were produced by plastic rheological deformation of salt under regional stress fields that varied during three distinct phases of extension, compression and re-activation. Hinge belt III was active from Coniacian to Early Eocene, which was a critical period of formation of salt structures when many extension-related salt structures formed and salt diapirism controlled the distribution of turbidite fans. Rootless extrusion-related salt stocks developed throughout the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene as a result of lo- cal ephemeral low-intensity tectonic inversion. Post Oligocene salt diapirism was weak and salt tecton- ics had a weak influence on sedimentation. Balanced cross-sections of two saliferous horizons crossing different tectonic units from east to west reveal that the basin tectonic evolution and sediment filling processes can be divided into three stages containing seven episodes of rifting, transition and drifting.