This paper presents a comparative analysis of the 2/1 and 3/2 asteroidal re
sonances based on several analytical and numerical tools. The frequency map
analysis was used to obtain a refined estimation of the chaotic transport.
Fourier and wavelet analyses were used to construct the web of inner reson
ances and showed that they are the seat of the strongly unstable motion obs
erved in the numerical simulations. The most regular regions in both resona
nces were classified. A fast symplectic mapping allowed a number of direct
runs over 10(8) years of the orbits initially in these regions. The stabili
ty of orbits over the age of the solar system was discussed and compared to
the distribution of the observed asteroids in both resonances. (C) 1998 El
sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.