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A submarine landslide complex affecting the Jan Mayen Ridge, Norwegian–Greenland Sea: slide-scar morphology and processes of sediment evacuation

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Abstract

Swath-bathymetry data and 2D multichannel seismics reveal for the first time an up to ~60 km wide amphitheater-shaped slide scar on the eastern flank of the Jan Mayen Ridge, a micro-continent in the Norwegian–Greenland Sea. The scar opens southeastward where it continues as a narrower, topographically controlled translational area. It includes secondary scars, as well as channels and escarpments. Based on the identification of secondary scars, the slide is classified as a slide complex and the total volume of missing sediments was estimated at ~60 km3. From the overall shape of the scar, the upslope widening from a bottleneck- or channel-like bypass-area, the failure is inferred to have had a retrogressive development. The absence of ridges, slabs and sediment blocks indicates that the failed sediments have been evacuated entirely. The smaller channels were formed from single or repetitive smaller flows post-dating the large failure events.

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Acknowledgements

This work is a contribution to the Sea-floor stability offshore Lofoten, North Norway (Loslope) project, and we acknowledge the Research Council of Norway for financial support. We also acknowledge M. Sand at the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate for access to the multi-beam bathymetric data and valuable discussions, M. Vanneste and C.F. Forsberg of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute for their help with the GMT software, Spectrum for permission to publish part of their seismic line JM-85-06_R08, and M.S. Stoker and G. Lastras for constructive reviews.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Jan S. Laberg, Hilde Amundsen, Nicole Baeten, Matthias Forwick, Tom A. Rydningen & Tore O. Vorren

  2. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8511, Japan

    Kiichiro Kawamura

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  1. Jan S. Laberg
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  2. Kiichiro Kawamura
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  3. Hilde Amundsen
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  4. Nicole Baeten
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  5. Matthias Forwick
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  6. Tom A. Rydningen
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  7. Tore O. Vorren
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Correspondence to Jan S. Laberg.

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Tore O. Vorren passed away on 16 June 2013.

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Laberg, J.S., Kawamura, K., Amundsen, H. et al. A submarine landslide complex affecting the Jan Mayen Ridge, Norwegian–Greenland Sea: slide-scar morphology and processes of sediment evacuation. Geo-Mar Lett 34, 51–58 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-013-0345-z

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