Slope Instability along the northeastern Iberian and Balearic continental margins

Authors

  • G. Lastras Universitat de Barcelona.
  • M. Canals Universitat de Barcelona.
  • D. Amblas Instituto Español de Oceanografía.
  • J. Frigola Universitat de Barcelona.
  • R. Urgeles Universitat de Barcelona.
  • A. M. Calafat GRC Geociències Marines.
  • J. Acosta Instituto Español de Oceanografía.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/105.000000308

Keywords:

Submarine landslides, Seismic stratigraphy, Swath bathymetry, Ebro margin, Catalan margin, Western Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

This paper gathers the available information on submarine landslides identified in the northeastern Iberian continental margin and presents new data on both already known landslides and new, previously unknown ones. The 2,000 km2, 26 km3 resulting deposit of the BIG’95 debris flow in the Ebro margin; the 4 up to 16 km2, 0.4 km3 Eivissa slides in the Eivissa Channel; the 2 up to 65.6 km2, 1.46 km3 Barcelona slides in the shallow southern Catalan margin; and the western Gulf of Lions debris flow in the deep north Catalan margin are presented. This compilation is completed with several other previously undescribed small-scale mass-wasting deposits together with those observed in the Balearic Promontory. The amount and widespreading of submarine landslide deposits in the northern Iberian margins demonstrate that these margins are not an exception to the common occurence of these kind of structures worldwide, and gives an idea on this phenomena recurrence even in margins considered moderately quiet, in terms of seismicity.

Author Biographies

G. Lastras, Universitat de Barcelona.

GRC Geociències Marines.

M. Canals, Universitat de Barcelona.

GRC Geociències Marines.

J. Frigola, Universitat de Barcelona.

GRC Geociències Marines.

R. Urgeles, Universitat de Barcelona.

GRC Geociències Marines.

A. M. Calafat, GRC Geociències Marines.

GRC Geociències Marines.

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Published

2007-01-11

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