Submarine landslides in the northern South China Sea: characteristics, geohazard evaluation and perspectives

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.9.3

Abstract

Abstract:

Submarine landslides and the tsunamis they trigger can cause catastrophic damage to the infrastructure, economy, and lives increasingly expanding on the sea and along the coastlines. Therefore, quick technological progress is needed to guard against geohazards triggered by submarine landslides. Submarine landslides are identified by a large amount of geophysical data (seismic and multibeam bathymetrical data) in the petroliferous basins (the Pearl River Mouth Basin and the Qiongdongnan Basin) along the margin of the northern South China Sea. These submarine landslides formed from the Pliocene to Quaternary periods, ranging in size from several to over ten thousand square kilometers. They are mostly characterized by chaotic and blank seismic reflections; some contain a large number of collapse blocks. The seismic characteristics, sizes, origins, and geohazard potentials of these submarine landslides vary greatly because of their different developing environments. In this study, the seismic expression of submarine landslides is characterized, and their direct and indirect geohazard potentials (including those in the Xisha Massif) are evaluated. Finally, the important scientific (formation mechanism of submarine landslide) and practical questions (possible submarine landslides and landslide-generated tsunami) arising from this research are discussed.

Key words: submarine landslide, tsunami, geohazard, geohazard evaluation, northern South China Sea

CLC Number:

SUN Qiliang, XIE Xinong, WU Shiguo. Submarine landslides in the northern South China Sea: characteristics, geohazard evaluation and perspectives[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2021, 28(2): 258-270.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 Locations of the study area.Canyons, Red River-East Vietnam faults and Manila Trench are adapted from [26-27], respectively; base map is modified after [28].

Fig.2 Schematic stratigraphic columns of the Pearl River Mouth Basin and the Qiongdongnan Basin. Modified after [34,36-37].

Fig.3 3D visualization of the Baiyun Submarine Landslide

Fig.4 3D seismic characteristics of the Baiyun Submarine Landslide in its head zone

Fig.5 Seismic characteristics of the Baiyun Submarine Landslide in the middle slope and ocean basin

Fig.6 Characteristics of submarine slope failures in the Qiongdongnan Basin

Fig.7 3D visualization of submarine slope failures in the Qiongdongnan Basin

Fig.8 Summaries of paleo-submarine landslides, possible submarine landslides and their triggered direct or indirect geohazards in the northern slopes of the South China Sea and the Xisha Massif

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