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The Baraza Slide: model and dynamics

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Abstract

The Baraza Slide is located in the northwestern Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean region, between 590 and 830 m water depth, and its morphology, seismic facies and sedimentary structure are analyzed based on multibeam bathymetry and very high to medium resolution single-channel seismic records. During the Pleistocene and Late Quaternary this landslide has undergone repeated slope failures characterized by a succession of two main types of mass movement, the first of the mass-flow type and the second of the slide type. This study also reveals that the western sector of this landslide could still be active. The relatively high slope gradients, a sedimentary column characterized by the presence of under consolidated layers and earthquake shaking related to tectonic activity on the margin are the factors governing the genesis and post-mobility behavior of the Baraza mass movement. The recognition and analysis of these factors suggest that the Baraza Slide should be considered as a geo-hazard in the tectonically active Alboran Sea.

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Acknowledgments

This article is dedicated to Dr. Jesus Baraza. This study was supported by the Projects SAGAS (CTM2009/07893-E/MAR and CTM2005-08071-C03-02/MAR), CONTOURIBER (CTM2008-06399-C04-04/MAR) and MONTERA (CTM2009-14157-C02), of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. The Continental Margins Group (GMC) also thanks the Generalitat de Catalunya for the financial support received in the framework of 2009 SGR1071. We thank Seismic Micro-Technology Inc. for supporting us with the Kingdom Suite Program. We also, thank to Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino (Secretaria General del Mar) for the bathymetric data. The helpful comments from the reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, C/Ríos Rosas, n° 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain

    D. Casas & L. Somoza

  2. Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Passeig Marítim Barceloneta, n° 37–49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    G. Ercilla, F. Estrada & B. Alonso

  3. Escuela Politécnica Superior de Zamora, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008, Salamanca, Spain

    M. Yenes

  4. Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1ER, Cambridge, UK

    M. García

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  1. D. Casas
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  2. G. Ercilla
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  5. B. Alonso
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Correspondence to D. Casas.

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Casas, D., Ercilla, G., Yenes, M. et al. The Baraza Slide: model and dynamics. Mar Geophys Res 32, 245–256 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-011-9132-2

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