Seafloor earthquake ruptures and mass wasting from the 2004 Mw 6.3 Les Saintes submarine earthquake

Abstract The seismic hazard posed by submarine faults and the capacity of earthquakes to trigger mass wasting are poorly understood because we lack detailed characterizations coseismic ruptures at seafloor. Here, present comprehensive mapping a seafloor rupture caused 2004 M w 6.3 Les Saintes earthquake on Roseau normal fault in Lesser Antilles. We report visual characteristics, displacement profile, note pronounced asymmetry that bears similarities with well-studied subaerial ruptures. also identify footwall-derived wasted debris locally cover rupture, show ground accelerations 0.1–0.2 g can events well consolidated bedrock along unstable, over-steepened, scarps. Our study demonstrates potential underwater vehicles for hints key role shaping landscapes triggering events.