Deep-water seamounts in the NE Atlantic, sources of landslides-induced tsunamis: Slope stability analysis and tsunami numerical modelling

Abstract:

Submarine mass failures (SMFs) present one of the significant marine Geo-hazards. Their importance as contributors to tsunami hazard has been recognized over the last 20-30 years, but they are seldom considered in the evaluation of quantitative tsunami impact or in the design of warning strategies.

This study aims to investigate the slope stability of the SMFs in the NE Atlantic, their companion tsunami and the associated hazard at the target coasts. It focuses on two major deep-water seamounts of the NE Atlantic, the Gorringe Bank and the Hirondelle, where evidences of large SMFs have been found.

Slope stability analysis is often based on relationships between landslides and earthquakes. Here, within each considered seamount, slope failure potential is investigated through the pseudo-static method. This analysis allows establishing a relationship between the size of the SMF and the critical earthquake peak ground acceleration necessary to initiate it and therefore define the possible SMF scenarios. Numerical modelling of SMF-induced tsunami generation is then employed to test the tsunamigenic potential of each defined scenario. It is performed using a multi-layers viscous shallow-water model, where the lower layer represents the deformable slide that is assumed to be a viscous-incompressible fluid, and bounded by the upper layer of seawater assumed to be inviscid and incompressible. The propagation of tsunami waves is simulated employing non-linear shallow water equations.

Results are presented in terms of: 1) slope stability curves that establish the relationship between the probable earthquake magnitudes and the possible sizes of SMFs, 2) possible SMF scenarios within each seamount, 3) potential of tsunami generation for each SMF, 4) tsunami coastal impact at target coasts. Results show that SMFs in the NE Atlantic have the potential of generating large tsunamis with significant impact along the surrounding coasts. Therefore, more attention must be accorded to deep-water submarine landslides-induced tsunamis in marine geo-hazards assessment at the region. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 603839 (Project ASTARTE - Assessment, Strategy and Risk Reduction for Tsunamis in Europe).