Propagation of frontally confined subaqueous landslides: Insights from combining geophysical, sedimentological, and geotechnical analysis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2021.105877
• Publication Date: 2021-02-15T06:23:24Z
• Authors: M. Sammartini; J. Moernaut; A. Kopf; S. Stegmann; S.C. Fabbri; F.S. Anselmetti; M. Strasser
• Keywords: Submarine landslide; Mass movement; Thrust fault

Subaquatic mass movements are common in marine and lacustrine environments, but due to their barely predictable nature, direct observations of these processes limited so that knowledge is only indirectly obtained by investigating the resulting mass-transport deposits (MTDs). Most research focuses on most frontally emergent slides, fast-moving events able generate turbidity currents tsunamis. Geohazards confined slides mechanisms behind typical fold-and-thrust deformation structures however still poorly understood. We investigate MTDs Lake Lucerne (Switzerland) integrating bathymetric high-resolution seismic data with geotechnical information derived from situ Cone Penetrometer Tests short core analysis. Investigated consist three units: i) a mass-slide deposit, located at base slope consisting coherent sequence, ii) system developed basin sediments, iii) an overrunning flow remolded sediments. The deformed thrusted sediments show higher undrained shear strength compared undisturbed sequence. propose this strengthening caused lateral compression leading fluid expulsion high-plasticity bulldozing sliding mass. Relative kinematic indicators document occur rapidly. Thus, they should be considered tsunami hazard Furthermore, our highlight angle gliding surface topography key controlling factors for stability propagation basin-plain deformations, respectively. Our integrated study supports refines models proposed revealing potential smaller-scale easier-to-access lakes.