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Submarine landslides: processes, triggers and hazard prediction
D G Masson1, C B Harbitz, R B Wynn
1National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK. dgm@noc.soton.ac.uk
Summary
Submarine landslides, massive sediment movements, pose significant hazards like tsunamis and infrastructure damage. Understanding triggers like pore pressure and earthquakes is key to assessing and mitigating these geological events.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Earth Science
- Oceanography
Background:
- Submarine landslides are large-scale geological events common on diverse underwater slopes.
- These events mobilize vast volumes of sediment and rock, posing significant risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current knowledge on submarine landslides.
- To identify challenges in assessing their hazard potential.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on submarine landslide characteristics and triggers.
- Analysis of factors influencing landslide occurrence, such as pore pressure and weak layers.
- Examination of historical earthquake-triggered landslide events.
Main Results:
- Major hazards include destruction of seabed infrastructure, coastal collapse, and landslide-generated tsunamis.
- Elevated pore pressures and weak layers are primary factors in landslide initiation.
- Earthquakes are identified as the main trigger for large submarine landslides.
- Ocean-island flank collapses and fjord rockslides are particularly dangerous due to tsunamigenic potential.
Conclusions:
- Identifying areas prone to submarine landsliding is feasible.
- Precise forecasting of individual landslide events remains a challenge.
- Advances in monitoring critical areas and consequence modeling are essential for mitigation strategies.
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