Recent global events such as the devastating 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami, the 2004 Sumatran tsunami and the 2006 SE Asia undersea network cable failure underscore the societal and economic effects of submarine mass movements. These events call upon the scientific community to understand submarine mass movement processes and consequences to assist in hazard assessment, mitigation and planning. Additionally, submarine mass movements are beginning to be recognized as prevalent in continental margin geologic sections. As such, they represent a significant if not dominant role in margin sedimentary processes. They also represent a potential hazard to hydrocarbon exploration and development, but also represent exploration indicators and targets. This volume consists of a collection of the latest scientific research by international experts in geological, geophysical, engineering and environment aspects of submarine mass failures, focussed on understanding the full spectrum of challenges presented by submarine mass movements and their consequences.
Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research Volume 28 For other titles published in this series go to www.springer.com/series/6362 David C. Mosher • R. Craig Shipp Lorena Moscardelli • Jason D. Chaytor Christopher D.P. Baxter • Homa J. Lee Roger Urgeles Editors Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences 4th International Symposium David C. Mosher Natural Resources Canada Dartmouth, NS, Canada
[email protected] Lorena Moscardelli University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA
[email protected] Christopher D.P. Baxter University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
[email protected] Roger Urgeles Institute of Marine Sciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
[email protected] R. Craig Shipp Shell International Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, TX, USA
[email protected] Jason D. Chaytor Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
[email protected] Homa J. Lee United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA
[email protected] ISBN 978-90-481-3070-2 e-ISBN 978-90-481-3071-9 DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3071-9 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2009933588 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Dedication William R. Normark 1943–2008 Bruno Savoye 1959–2008 This book, “Submar