@article{fdi:010060389,
  title = {{T}he role of fluvial sediment supply and river-mouth hydrology in the dynamics of the muddy, {A}mazon-dominated {A}mapa-{G}uianas coast, {S}outh {A}merica : a three-point research agenda},
  author = {{A}nthony, {E}. {J}. and {G}ardel, {A}. and {P}roisy, {C}hristophe and {F}romard, {F}. and {G}ensac, {E}. and {P}eron, {C}. and {W}alcker, {R}. and {L}esourd, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he morphology and sediment dynamics of the 1500 km-long coast of {S}outh {A}merica between the mouths of the {A}mazon and the {O}rinoco {R}ivers are largely dependent on the massive suspended-sediment discharge of the {A}mazon, part of which is transported alongshore as mud banks. {T}hese mud banks have an overwhelming impact on the geology, the geomorphology, the ecology and the economy of this coast. {A}lthough numerous field investigations and remote sensing studies have considerably enhanced our understanding of the dynamics of this coast over the last three decades, much still remains to be understood of the unique functional mechanisms and processes driving its evolution. {A}mong the themes that we deem as requiring further attention three come out as fundamental. {T}he first concerns the mechanisms of formation of individual mud banks from mud streaming on the shelf off the mouth of the {A}mazon. {A}n unknown quantity of the fluid mud generated by offshore estuarine front activity is transported shoreward and progressively forms mud banks on the {A}mapa coast, {B}razil. {T}he volume of each mud bank can contain from the equivalent of the annual mud supply of the {A}mazon to several times this annual sediment discharge. {T}he mechanisms by which individual banks are generated from the {A}mazon turbidity maximum are still to be elucidated. {A}reas of research include regional mesoscale oceanographic conditions and mud supply from the {A}mazon. {T}he second theme is that of variations in rates of migration of mud banks, which influence patterns of coastal accretion. {R}esearch emphasis needs to be placed on the analysis of both regional meteorological-hydrodynamic forcing and distant {A}tlantic forcing, as well as on the hydrology of the large rivers draining the {G}uyana {S}hield. {T}he rivers appear to generate significant offshore deflection of mud banks in transit alongshore, through a hydraulic-groyne effect. {T}his may favour both muddy accretion on the updrift coast and downdrift mud liquefaction with probably lessened muddy deposition. {T}he third theme concerns sand supply by the {G}uiana {S}hield rivers. {T}he rare sand deposits are important in providing sites for human settlements and routes and for nesting by marine turtles. {T}he limited presence of sand bodies on this coast may reflect 'mud blanketing', a hypothesis that requires verification through high-resolution seismic analyses of shelf deposits and coring operations. {T}he large {G}uiana {S}hield rivers, especially in {S}urinam and {G}uyana, have supplied sand for the construction of significant bands of cheniers, probably enhanced by the afore-mentioned downdrift hydraulic-groyne effect on hindered mud deposition. {I}n all the three themes of this future research agenda, two central elements are the sediment input of the rivers of the {A}mazon basin, starting with the massive mud supply from the {A}mazon catchment itself, followed by sand inputs by the {G}uiana {S}hield rivers and their river-mouth effects on mud banks.},
  keywords = {{A}mazon ; {G}uiana {S}hield ; {M}ud banks ; {R}ivers ; {R}iver-mouth hydraulic groyne ; {M}uddy coast ; {S}andy cheniers ; {S}outh {A}merica ; {BRESIL} ; {AMAZONE} {COURS} {D}'{EAU} ; {GUYANES} {PLATEAU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {S}outh {A}merican {E}arth {S}ciences},
  volume = {44},
  numero = {{N}o {S}p{\'e}cial},
  pages = {18--24},
  ISSN = {0895-9811},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jsames.2012.06.005},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060389},
}