The Malta-Sicily Escarpment: Mass Movement Dynamics in a Sediment-Undersupplied Margin

Micallef, Aaron; Georgiopoulou, Aggeliki; Le Bas, Timothy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2545-782X; Mountjoy, Joshu; Huvenne, Veerle ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7135-6360; Lo Iacono, Claudio. 2014 The Malta-Sicily Escarpment: Mass Movement Dynamics in a Sediment-Undersupplied Margin. In: Krastel, S.; Behrmann, J-H.; Volker, D.; Stipp, M.; Berndt, C.; Urgeles, R.; Chaytor, J.; Huhn, K.; Strasser, M.; Harbitz, C.B., (eds.) Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences: 6th International Symposium. Cham, Switzerland, Springer International, 317-328, 680pp. (Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, 37).

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00972-8_16

Abstract/Summary

The Malta-Sicily Escarpment (MSE) is a steep carbonate escarpment that appears to have largely remained isolated from inputs of fluvial and littoral sediments since the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Mass movement activity has so far only been inferred from sediment cores at the base of the MSE. In this study we use geophysical and sedimentological data acquired from the upper MSE and outer Malta Plateau to: (i) map and characterise the dominant forms of mass movements, and (ii) determine the nature and origin of these mass movements, and their role in the evolution of the MSE. We document 67 mass movement scars across 370 km2 of seafloor. Slope instability entailed translational slides, spreads and debris flows that mobilised Plio-Pleistocene outer shelf hemipelagic/pelagic sediments or carbonate sequences across the upper continental slope. Slope failure events are caused by loss of support associated with the formation of channels, gullies, canyon heads and fault-related escarpments. Mass movements play a key role in eroding the seafloor and transferring material to the lower MSE. In particular, they control the extent of headward and lateral extension of submarine canyons, facilitate tributary development, remove material from the continental shelf and slope, and feed sediment and drive its transport across the submarine canyon system.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/978-3-319-00972-8_28
ISBN:	978-3-319-00971-1
ISSN:	1878-9897
Date made live:	06 Mar 2014 14:39 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/505394

Item Type:

Publication - Book Section

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/978-3-319-00972-8_28

ISBN:

978-3-319-00971-1

ISSN:

1878-9897

Date made live:

06 Mar 2014 14:39 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/505394