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Seismic Geomorphology of the Chandeleur Submarine Landslide in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Martinez, Gabriel O
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618945872402882

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Earth Sciences.
The Chandeleur Slide is a large submarine landslide on the Gulf of Mexico seafloor in approximately 1100 meters of water, 200 km southeast of New Orleans, LA. This part of the Mississippi Fan received high sedimentation throughout the Pleistocene, causing high pore fluid pressure and abundant slope failures, though few as large as the Chandeleur. Given its proximity to major coastal cities, oil and gas infrastructure, and its large size, I examine the Chandeleur Slide to: (1) map the location and thickness of the displaced sediment, (2) understand what led to the initial slope failure, (3) decipher if this was a fast-moving or slow-moving event, and (4) consider potential hazard implications a slide like the Chandeleur represents for seafloor infrastructures and tsunami risks to coastal communities surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. I interpreted publicly available 2D and 3D multichannel seismic surveys and high-resolution bathymetry data to reveal several flow paths generally due south/southeast, and a slow-moving sediment mass with a translational-rotational behavior. The Chandeleur Slide includes extensional faulting in the headscarp area and compressional structures in the northern-most toe confined by a natural ramp-like structure. Beneath the Chandeleur Slide, I observe an upward-migrating salt body that has compressed a regional sand-rich unit (the Blue Unit). I interpret that the upward-migrating salt led to overpressure within Blue Unit sand layers, facilitating the initial failure of the Chandeleur. After failure, the Chandeleur Slide transported a large volume of sediment southward but was blocked by antecedent topographic highs that deflected much of the sediment to the south/southwest. The initial failure was followed by retrogressive headwall retreat northward, which created the prominent scarp on the seafloor. In total, the Chandeleur Slide comprises an area just over 1000 km2 and contains about 300 km3 of failed sediment.
Derek Sawyer, Dr. (Advisor)
Ann Cook, Dr. (Committee Member)
Daniel Pradel, Dr. (Committee Member)
42 p.
Earth; Environmental Geology; Geographic Information Science; Geological; Geology; Geomorphology; Geophysics; Geotechnology; Marine Geology
Seismic Geomorphology; Submarine Landslide; Geophysics, Marine Geology, Mass Transport Deposit

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Martinez, G. O. (2021). Seismic Geomorphology of the Chandeleur Submarine Landslide in the Northern Gulf of Mexico [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618945872402882

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Martinez, Gabriel. Seismic Geomorphology of the Chandeleur Submarine Landslide in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. 2021. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618945872402882.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Martinez, Gabriel. "Seismic Geomorphology of the Chandeleur Submarine Landslide in the Northern Gulf of Mexico." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618945872402882

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1618945872402882
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