Arctic megaslide at presumed rest


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Wolfram.Geissler [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

Slope failure like in the Hinlopen/Yermak Megaslide is one of the major geohazards in a changing Arctic environment. We analysed hydroacoustic and 2D high-resolution seismic data from the apparently intact continental slope immediately north of the Hinlopen/Yermak Megaslide for signs of past and future instabilities. Our new bathymetry and seismic data show clear evidence for incipient slope instability. Minor slide deposits and an internally-deformed sedimentary layer near the base of the gas hydrate stability zone imply an incomplete failure event, most probably about 30000 years ago, contemporaneous to or shortly after the Hinlopen/Yermak Megaslide. An active gas reservoir at the base of the gas hydrate stability zone demonstrate that over-pressured fluids might have played a key role in the initiation of slope failure at the studied slope, but more importantly also for the giant HYM slope failure. To date, it is not clear, if the studied slope is fully preconditioned to fail completely in future or if it might be slowly deforming and creeping at present. We detected widespread methane seepage on the adjacent shallow shelf areas not sealed by gas hydrates.



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Conference (Talk)
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Primary Division
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Published
Event Details
Ge­o­B­re­men 2017, 24 Sep 2017 - 29 Sep 2017, Bremen.
Eprint ID
45001
Cite as
Geissler, W. , Gebhardt, C. , Gross, F. , Wollenburg, J. , Jensen, L. , Schmidt-Aursch, M. , Krastel, S. , Elger, J. and Osti, G. (2017): Arctic megaslide at presumed rest , Ge­o­B­re­men 2017, Bremen, 24 September 2017 - 29 September 2017 .


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