Evidences of instability processes at the Espírito Santo basin

A geophysical survey carried out at the Espírito Santo basin, on the southeast coast of Brazil, identified several geomorphologies of instability such as: canyons and gullies. Besides these, muddy deposits were found providing evidence of turbidity currents. Having established this as a region showing evidence of sedimentary processes, this work seeks to find evidence to distinguish the processes of instability which have occurred since the Upper Pleistocenic deposits and suggest possible causes. This being obtained from geophysical data consisting of high resolution seismic information, short cores and bathymetry of the region. The identification of the echo characters obtained from the high resolution seismic information (3.5 kHz), differentiated by its distribution, continuity and discontinuity of reflectors, demonstrated different standards of echo character of the gullies and characteristics of the sea bed providing signs of erosion and deposition processes.