Submarine Landslides

Submarine landslides are large-scale movements of sediment and rocks that occur on the slopes of ocean floors. They are triggered by factors such as earthquakes, steep underwater terrain, overloading of sediments, or changes in water pressure. These slides can displace massive amounts of material rapidly, potentially generating tsunamis and altering seafloor landscapes. They are important to study because they impact underwater infrastructure, influence sediment transport, and can pose hazards to coastal communities. While often invisible from the surface, submarine landslides play a significant role in shaping the ocean's seafloor over geological time.