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ABSTRACT
Barboza, E. G.; Rosa, M. L.C. C; Dillenburg, S. R.; Hesp P. A.; Tomazelli, L. J. and Ayup-Zouain, R. N. 2011.
Evolution of the Holocene Coastal Barrier of Pelotas Basin (Southern Brazil) - a new approach with GPR data.
Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal Symposium), pg – pg.
Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208.
Results from a subsurface study performed in the coastal barrier of the Holocene portion of Pelotas Basin along
coastal sectors showing progradational, aggradational and retrogradational behavior during the Middle and Late
Holocene are presented. The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was used to evaluate subsurface records of the
barrier with the aim of defining barrier behavior during a small sea level fall. In sectors of coastal plain where
strandplains (regressive barriers) were identified, GPR subsurface records are characterized by oblique reflectors
dipping basinward. In sectors where the barrier dunefields are transgressing backbarrier terrains the stacking
pattern is retrogradational, which is evidenced by oblique reflectors dipping toward the continent. Between the
progradational and retrogradational sectors, GPR records are characterized by basal oblique reflectors dipping
landward, while the top reflectors are parallel and subparallel. This distinct basal and top pattern corresponds,
respectively, to transgressive and stationary (aggradational) phases of barrier evolution. These results indicate
that the shoreline of the emerged portion of Pelotas Basin has experienced transgressive, regressive and
aggradational behavior along 1,000 km of coastline during the Middle and Late Holocene.
REGIONAL SETTING (1995), this barrier was formed during the last glacio-eustatic
transgressive cycle started at around 18 ka. Climate is humid
temperate with generally warm to hot temperatures in summer and
The Pelotas basin has a superficial expression of 210.000 km2, cool temperatures in winter. Rainfall ranges from 1,000 to 1,500
and is located in the southernmost part of the Brazilian mm and is evenly distributed throughout the year (Hoffmann et
Continental Margin, which is a rifted plate boundary formed in al., 1992). The average significant wave height is 1.5 m, but
Early Cretaceous times. To the North it is limited by the during storms, sea level can surge up to 1.3 m (Barletta and
Florianópolis High and to the South by the Polônio High at Calliari, 2001; Calliari et al., 1998). The coast is microtidal with
Uruguay margin (Gamboa and Rabonowitz, 1981; Urien and semidiurnal tides that have a mean range of only 0.5 m
Martins, 1978) (Fig. 1). The Holocene portion of the Basin is (Dillenburg et al., 2009). The maximum sea level of the
represented by a 1,000 km long coastal barrier system that is Postglacial Marine Transgression (PMT) reached +2 – 3 meters at
segmented by very few inlets and small rivers that presently bring around 6 – 5 cal ka, subsequently followed by a slow sea level fall
little sediment to the coast. According to Villwock and Tomazelli (Angulo et al., 2006; Barboza and Tomazelli, 2003).
Figure 1. Landsat 7 satellite image (ETM+ sensor, Band 2 - 130° of inclination) with location of Pelotas basin coastal plain. In this image
are observed coastal projections, between gentle coastal embayments and littoral drift. The letters (A, B, C, D and E) indicate GPR
profiles (modified from Rosa, 2010).
METHODS barrier in this area. The largest dunefields are found at the
northeast end of the transgressive sectors, in response to the
The GPR records were acquired over roads along cross shore dominant northward littoral drift (Tomazelli and Villwock, 1992;
profiles. A SIR-3000 data acquisition system of GSSI™ Toldo Jr. et al., 2006). Some authors suggest that transgressive
(Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.) with 200 MHz antenna sectors are the source of sands that form transgressive dunefields
(recording up to 12 m depth), and a 70 MHz antenna of Radarteam (Semeniuk and Meagher, 1981; Dillenburg et al., 2009). As
Sweden AB (recording up to 20 m depth) were used. The GPR previously noted, lagoonal muds are outcropping along the
system was connected to a Differential Global Positioning System backshore/foreshore zone of these transgressive sectors. 14C dating
(DGPS), allowing a real time topographic survey. At the time of of these muds gave ages of 6,551 cal yrs BP at Jardim do Éden
data acquisition, noise and gain filters were applied. A dielectric beach (Travessas, 2003; Travessas et al., 2005), 3,220 and 3,370
constant for sand (10) was used, representing a velocity of 0.09 cal yrs BP at Bujuru (Dillenburg et al., 2004). This is the most
m/ns (Davis and Annan, 1989). This constant was validated by important evidence of a transgressive process operating in these
lithological data obtained from drillings performed at all coastal sectors in a long-term.
sectors. The Common Off-set array was used. The field records of In sectors where the barrier dunefields are transgressing
GPR were processed and interpreted through the software backbarrier terrains, and where lagoonal mud deposits are
RADAN™ 6.6 and Reflex-Win®. outcropping at the backshore/foreshore zone, the stacking pattern
Interpretation of GPR data followed the seismostratigraphy of GPR records is retrogradational. This pattern is evidenced by
method based on termination (onlap, downlap, toplap and oblique reflectors dipping toward the continent (Fig. 2A). The
truncations), geometry and pattern of reflectors (Mitchum Jr. et forming mechanism of this transgressive process comprises the
al., 1977; Vail, 1987). aeolian sand erosion and transport from the backshore/foreshore
zone into the lagoonal inter-barrier depression (Dillenburg et al.,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 2004; Caron et al., 2010). The final transport of the transgressive
sands into the lagoonal body is produced directly by wind
transport, with the slip-face of dunes advancing into the lagoon, or
The transgressive or retrogradational sectors in general occur in by ephemeral washouts building deltas in the lagoonal margin
coastal projections (prominent areas), between gentle coastal (L.J. Tomazelli personal communication). Both processes result in
embayments. Large transgressive dunefields cover the whole landward progradation of the lagoonal margin. The GPR records
Figure 2. A) Retrogradational sector in coastal projection, profile was acquired with a frequency of 200 MHz. B) Progradational sector
in coastal embayment, profile was acquired with a frequency of 70 MHz. C) Aggradational/ stationary between projected and
embayed coastal sectors, profile was acquired with a frequency of 200 MHz. D) Progradational sector in coastal embayment, profile
was acquired with a frequency of 200 MHz.
of such progradation are represented by medium to high angle level of the PMT (6 – 5 cal ka) the barriers of such sectors were
reflectors dipping landwards. This ongoing transgressive process located some distance seawards.
indicates that in some sectors of the Pelotas basin the Holocene The regressive/progradational sectors are dominated by the
transgressive maximum has not yet been reached (Rosa, 2010; morphology of foredune ridges and some transgressive dunefields
Rosa et al., this volume). This implies that at the maximum sea- (Dillenburg et al., 2006 and 2009; Hesp et al., 2005 and 2007).
These sectors are found along the gentle embayments of the coast. The stationary (aggradational) sectors show GPR reflectors with
Their general GPR records are characterized by oblique reflectors a classical piling up aggradational pattern, sometimes exhibiting a
dipping seawards (Fig. 2B and D). This pattern may be combined faint progradational record. These sectors occur in the transition
with downstepping and aggradational components (Barboza et al., between transgressive (projected) and regressive (embayed)
2009 and 2010; Silva, 2010). Recent GPR data has revealed coastal sectors. The GPR records are characterized by basal
records of the transgressive phase of these sectors. Deposits of this oblique reflectors dipping landward, while the top reflectors are
phase were sampled and dated by 14C at 8,320 – 8,070 cal yrs BP parallel and subparallel. These distinct basal and top patterns
(Silva, 2011) (Fig. 3). correspond respectively to transgressive and stationary
(aggradational) phases of barrier evolution (Fig. 2C).
Figure 3. Retrogradational/Progradational sector in coastal embayment, profile was acquired with a frequency of 200 MHz. The
transgressive deposits of this phase were sampled and dated by 14C at 8,320 – 8,070 cal yrs BP (Silva, 2011).
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Holocene evolution of transgressive dunefields from Rio ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Grande do Sul coast, southern Brazil. Marine Geology, v. 256,
p. 49-64.
Mitchum Jr., R.M.; Vail, P.R. & Sangree, J.B., 1977. Seismic This research was funded by a grant from CNPq (472380/2007-
Stratigraphy and Global Changes of Sea Level, Part 6: 9) and (454804/2008-3). The authors Barboza, Dillenburg and
Stratigraphy interpretation of seismic reflection patterns in Tomazelli thank CNPq for their research grants and Rosa thanks
depositional sequences. In: Payton, C.E. (ed.). Seismic CNPq for her PhD scholarship. Patrick Hesp was supported by
Stratigraphy — Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration. CECO/UFRGS and LSU Dept of Geography and Anthropology.
Tulsa, AAPG, 117-133 (Memoir # 26).