Abstract. In this work, we analyze the origin, evolution, and recent sedimentation of the Rio Grande Terrace (RGT), the most prominent upper slope terrace of the SW Atlantic. We gathered data from deep to shallow seismic, echo-sounding and surface sediments in order to recognize the role played by the geological inheritance, the sediment origin, and the present hydrodynamics, this last one defined by the action of the high speeds of the Brazil Current.

The RGT is here interpreted as a unique geomorphological feature, which was developed over a pre-Aptian basement high. It presents a complex modern morphology, given by the erosional action of the Brazil Current and its present surface sediments show a high complexity in terms of origin and grain size.