Extreme erosion by submarine slides

Abstract Submarine slides (including slides, slumps, and debris flows) pose major geohazards by triggering tsunami damaging essential submarine infrastructure. Slide volume, a key parameter in hazard assessments, can increase markedly through substrate and/or water entrainment. However, the erosive potential of is uncertain. We quantified slide erosivity determining ratio deposited (Vd) to initially evacuated (Ve) sediment volumes; i.e., that gain volume erosion have Vd/Ve >1. applied this method Gorgon slide, large (500 km3), seismically imaged offshore northwestern Australia, reviewed ratios for 11 other worldwide. Nine > 1 (median value = 2), showing emplaced volumes increased after initial failure. The most currently documented (Vd/Ve 13), possibly reflecting its passage across highly erodible carbonate ooze substrate. Our new approach quantifying important assessments given substrate-flow interactions control speed runout distance. variations also implications infrastructure impact including more robust modeling.