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The FaSt-SWOT project is funded by the Spanish Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund (AEI/FEDER, UE) under Grant Agreement (PID2021-122417NB-I00). The present research is conducted within the framework of the activities of the Spanish Government through the "María de Maeztu Centre of Excellence'' accreditation to IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) (CEX2021-001198). The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) are acknowledged for their support to the ICTS SOCIB. A. P., B. M. and B. B. L. thank the European Union funding through the EuroSea project an Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 862626., With funding from the Spanish government through the "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2021-001198).

Our research addresses a long-standing question in Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS): Over what distances are water parcels and passive species carried along the coast or onshore/offshore by the normal seasonal progression of currents or by anomalous events? A well-discussed example is the varying presence and absence of warm-water and cold-water zooplankton species in the northern region of the California Current System (CCS) during both seasonal variability and ENSO extremes. Observations of changes in water properties and species have been used to hypothesize transports from tropical or subarctic domains, but there have been few efforts to quantify realistic transport distances. Numerical circulation models have been used in a few regions to estimate Lagrangian trajectories, but to verify these hypothesized and modeled transports, Lagrangian trajectories based on observations are needed. We are using time series of mapped geostrophic velocities, derived from 28+ years of satellite altimeter observations, to calculate geostrophic Lagrangian trajectories of passive water parcels in the upper ocean around and within the California Current System, during normal seasonal cycles and anomalous climate events (ENSO extremes, marine heat waves, etc.). The geostrophic trajectories represent approximate movements beneath the Ekman layer. To include the wind-driven effects and the deeper currents, we employ results of a high-resolution numerical ocean circulation model to calculate 3-D tracer and water parcel trajectories, complementing the altimeter analysis. We also calculate trajectories using two data sets that combine geostrophic and Ekman components. In this presentation we show examples of the trajectories calculated from the various fields, addressing the question of transports between the northern and southern CCS during seasonal cycles and interannual events.

We use the model and altimeter data to characterize the circulation and shelf/deep-ocean interactions over the Agulhas Bank and the Southern Benguela Upwelling Region. The dynamical mechanisms controlling the shelf circulation as well as the shelf/deep-ocean interactions are identified with a suite of process-oriented experiments. Local winds and the sporadic transit of Natal Pulses, which are meanders generated by the transit of Agulhas eddies, are the main drivers of the shelf circulation and shelf/open ocean exchanges. Local winds control the inner shelf circulation and Agulhas eddies the outer shelf. Model analysis reveals a quite energetic water mass exchange between the Agulhas Current and the Agulhas Bank as well as between the Agulhas Bank and the Southern Benguela Upwelling region. We present evidence that shelf/open ocean interactions not only play a fundamental role on the shelf circulation but also on the water mass structure of the open ocean because these interaction lead to an enhanced vertical mixing of Agulhas Current waters. We estimate that the water mass exchanges associated with shelf/open-ocean interactions along the Agulhas Bank are of the same order of magnitude than the Indian/Atlantic interocean exchange.

Gold deposits located in French Guiana (France, South America) within Rhyacian terranes (2.3-2.05 Ga), are the witnesses of the Trans-Amazonian orogeny. These deposits, in the Guiana Shield, are covered by a dense rainforest where well-developed lateritic profiles leave little outcrop of unaltered bedrock. Considering this specific context, this thesis is interested in defining (i) what are the primary gold mineralisation processes and (ii) what is their preservation and enrichment (or not) during secondary supergene processes and is based on two case studies: the Yaou deposit and the Couriège prospect. At Yaou, intrusive bodies (quartz monzodiorite), mainly hosting gold mineralisation, are aligned along a sinistral shear zone affecting a volcano-sedimentary sequence. A polyphase tectono-magmatic evolution, of 5 deformation phases, is proposed at the scale of the mineralized camp. Associated with this deformation framework are two gold events which control the overall gold budget of the deposit. The intrusion hosting the mineralisation is dated at 2130.6 ± 5.8 Ma (U-Pb on zircon). The modalities of supergene processes are studied at the Couriège prospect, which includes several gold occurrences associated either with pyrite-rich quartz veins within in situ lateritic profiles, or with colluvial and alluvial horizons. Two profiles were studied to assess the role of supergene processes in the modification of primary (hypogene) mineralisation. The Achman Giraud site is characterised by an authigenic alteration profile with gold-bearing quartz veins. The weak vertical and lateral dispersion of gold, the predominantly primary character of the gold grains, and the limited evidence of supergene gold reprecipitation, argue for minor supergene remobilisation without clear evidence for gold enrichment during lateritisation. The Lupe site exposes a gold-bearing detrital horizon truncating a barren lateritic profile. Gold is present as electrum inclusions in partially goethitised detrital pyrite crystals and as free gold grains exhibiting a sub-rounded shape, mechanical transport marks and Ag-depleted rim, suggesting transport and exposure to weathering over significant distance and time., Les minéralisations aurifères situées en Guyane (France, Amérique du Sud) sont localisées au sein de terrains d’âge rhyacien (2.3-2.05 Ga), témoins de l’orogenèse Transamazonienne. Ces gisements du Bouclier Guyanais sont masqués par une forêt dense sous laquelle des profils latéritiques bien développés laissent peu d’affleurement de roche non altérée. Considérant ce contexte spécifique, cette thèse s’intéresse à définir (i) quels sont les processus de minéralisation d’or primaire et (ii) quel est leur préservation et enrichissement (ou non) au cours des processus supergènes secondaires et se base sur deux sites d’étude : le gisement de Yaou et le prospect de Couriège. À Yaou, des corps intrusifs (quartz monzodiorite), encaissant principalement la minéralisation aurifère, sont alignés le long d'une zone de cisaillement à cinématique sénestre affectant un ensemble volcano-sédimentaire. Une évolution tectono-magmatique polyphasée, impliquant 5 phases de déformation, est proposée à l'échelle du camp minéralisé. Sont associés à cette séquence de déformation, deux événements aurifères qui contrôlent le budget aurifère global du gisement. L’intrusion porteuse de la minéralisation est datée à 2130,6 ± 5,8 Ma (U-Pb sur zircon). Les modalités des processus supergènes sont étudiées dans le prospect de Couriège, qui comportent plusieurs indices aurifères associés soit à des veines de quartz riches en pyrite au sein de profils latéritiques en place, soit à des colluvions et alluvions. Le profil du site d’Achman Giraud est caractérisé par un profil d'altération authigénique développé sur un protolithe d’amphibolite avec des veines de quartz aurifères. La dispersion verticale et latérale de l’or peu importante, le caractère principalement primaire des grains d'or et les preuves limitées de reprécipitation de l'or supergène, plaident en faveur d'une faible remobilisation supergène sans preuve évidente d'enrichissement au cours de la latéritisation. Le profil du site de Lupe expose un horizon colluvionnaire aurifère tronquant un profil latéritique stérile. L’or est présent sous forme d'inclusions d'électrum dans des cristaux de pyrite détritiques centimétriques partiellement goethitisés et sous forme de grains d'or libres qui présentent une forme subarrondie, des marques de transport mécanique et des bordures appauvries en Ag, suggérant un transport significatif ainsi qu’une altération supergène.

Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) results, combined with chlorophyll-α (Chl-α) and satellite altimetry information as well as information from oceanographic cruises were analyzed to identify interactions between intrathermocline eddies (ITEs) and the Juan Fernández Archipelago (JFA), and discuss their potential impact on surface Chl-α concentrations. The JFA is located off the coast of central Chile (33°S), and is composed of three main islands: Robinson Crusoe (RC), Alejandro Selkirk (AS) and Santa Clara (SC). Results indicate that the surface and subsurface anticyclonic eddies that interact with the JFA are formed primarily within the coastal transition zone between 33° and 39°S. ITEs are present within the JFA region with a semiannual frequency, mainly during the austral autumn, and have a weak surface expression in relation to the adjacent surface eddies, with a slow displacement (1.16 to 1.4 km d-1) in a northwest direction and a coherent structure for periods of ≥ 1 year. During the ITEs' interaction with RC-SC islands and an adjacent seamount, a slight (prominent) thermocline deflection of the upper limit (lower) was observed. The horizontal extent (~70-100 km) was greater than the internal Rossby deformation radius and the average vertical extent was ~400 m. The interaction between the weak surface expression of ITEs, identified with satellite altimetry, and the JFA persisted during autumn for nine weeks until reaching the winter period. Approximately one month after the beginning of the interaction between ITEs and the islands, increases in surface Chl-α associated with the eddy were observed, with values up to three times higher than adjacent oceanic waters. Se analizaron los resultados de un modelo oceánico regional (ROMS), combinado con información de clorofila-α (Clo-α) y altimetría satelital, además de información proveniente de cruceros oceanográficos, para identificar la interacción entre los remolinos intratermoclina (ITEs) y el Archipiélago Juan Fernández (AJF), y discutir su potencial impacto sobre las concentraciones de Clo-α superficial. El AJF se encuentra ubicado frente a la costa central de Chile (33°S), y está conformado por las islas Robinson Crusoe, Santa Clara y Alejandro Selkirk. Los resultados indican que los remolinos anticiclónicos superficiales y subsuperficiales que interactúan con el AJF se forman principalmente en la zona de transición costera entre 33° y 39°S. Los ITEs se presentan en la región del AJF con una frecuencia semianual, principalmente durante el período de otoño austral, y poseen una débil expresión superficial respecto de los remolinos superficiales adyacentes, un lento desplazamiento (1,16-1,4 km d-1) con dirección noroeste y una estructura coherente por períodos ≥ 1 año. Durante la interacción de los ITEs con las islas RC-SC y el monte submarino adyacente, se observó una leve (prominente) deflexión del límite superior (inferior) de la termoclina. La escala horizontal (~70-100 km) fue mayor que el radio interno de deformación de Rossby y la escala vertical promedio fue de ~400 m. La interacción entre el ITE de débil expresión superficial identificada con altimetría satelital durante el período de otoño y el AJF perduró durante nueve semanas alcanzando el período invierno. Aproximadamente un mes después del comienzo de la interacción entre el ITE y las islas, se observaron incrementos de Clo-α superficial asociados al remolino con valores hasta tres veces mayores, respecto de las aguas oceánicas adyacentes.

El archipiélago de Juan Fernández y el de las islas Desventuradas, corresponden a dos pequenos grupos de islas oceánicas, separadas entre sí 460 mn y ubicadas aproximadamente a 360 mn frente a la costa chilena. La economía local de estas islas se basa casi exclusivamente en la extracción y comercialización de recursos marinos, focalizados principalmente en la explotación de la langosta (Jasusfrontalis). Esta especie endémica se encuentra distribuída en ambos archipiélagos conformando una metapoblación, donde su dinámica y estructura poblacional sería modulada por forzantes oceanográficos, especialmente durante su prolongada fase larval planctónica. Se evaluó la estructura poblacional y el grado de conectividad-retención dentro y entre las diferentes islas mediante el uso de modelos biofísicos acoplados (modelos hidrodinámicos provenientes del modelo OFES y un modelo individuo basado de J. frontalis). El análisis de los resultados del modelo hidrodinámico indica la presencia de estructuras de mesoescala asociadas al sistema de islas. Índices provenientes del modelo biofísico muestran niveles importantes de conectividad-retención dentro y entre los sistemas de islas y una fuerte variación interanual de estos. Los resultados de la modelación biofísica indican que la varibilidad en el reclutamiento asociado al archipiélago de Juan Fernández depende mayoritariamente de larvas originadas en este mismo sistema, con un aporte importante de reclutas hacia el archipiélago de las Desventuradas. Se realizaron estudios de sensibilidad del modelo biofísico para identificar forzantes potenciales de las variables dependientes del modelo (e.g. índices de conectividad-retención), resultando en que los patrones temporales y espaciales reproductivos, la duración del estadio larval y la temporada (ano) son altamente significativos. Finalmente, se propone que J. frontalis presenta una estructura metapoblacional con un alto nivel de conectividad en el archipiélago de Juan Fernández y un fuerte aporte de larvas hacia las islas Desventuradas. Estos flujos se ven determinados principalmente por el acoplamiento entre los factores biológicos y los factores oceanográficos imperantes. Located approximately 360 nm off the coast of Chile there is a disjoint realm of two small oceanic islands systems, the Juan Fernández and the Desventuradas archipelago. Currently the local economy of the islands is almost exclusively supported by the harvest and trade of marine resources, focusing mainly on the exploitation of the rock lobster (Jasus frontalis). This endemic species is distributed in both archipelagos, forming a metapopulation, whose population structure and dynamic is modulated by oceanographic forcing, especially during its extended planktonic larval phase. The population structure and the conection-retention within and between islands was assessed, based on the use of coupled biophysical model (the hidrodynamics model OFES and an individual-based model of J. frontalis). The analysis of the hydrodynamic model predictions showed the presence of mesoscale structures associated with the islands systems. The simulation results indicated significant levels of connectivity-retention within and between island systems showing also a strong interannual variation of these. Biophysical modeling results indicated that recruitment varibility associated with the Juan Fernández archipelago depends mainly on larvae originated within this system, which as well will contribute with recruits to the Desventuradas archipelago. The sensitivity analysis of the biophysical model to identify the potential biophysical forcing of the dependent variables of the model (e.g. connectivity-retention index), resulted in that temporal and spatial patterns reproductive larval stage duration and season (year) are highly significant factors. Finally, a metapopulation structure for J.frontalis, with a high level of connectivity in the archipelago of Juan Fernandez and a considerable amount of larvae in the Desventuradas islands is proposed. These fluxes are determined mainly by the coupling between prevailing biological and oceanographic factors.