Submarine landslide tsunamis in SW Iberia Margin: Sensitivity of tsunamigenic potential and hazard extent to physical properties of marine sediments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Ramalho ◽  
Rachid Omira ◽  
Aldina Piedade ◽  
Davide Gamboa ◽  
José Grazina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Submarine Landslide ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Numerical Code ◽  
Continental Margins ◽  
Iberian Margin ◽  
Landslide Dynamics ◽  
Underwater Landslides

<p>Slope instability is probably the most effective process shaping the seafloor of continental margins. This process often leads to the occurrence of submarine mass failures that, if large enough, can cause potential tsunamis. Yet, the dynamics of the landslide evacuated material and their induced tsunamigenic potential remain largely uncharacterized in most continental margins. This applies to the SW Iberia Margin, where large underwater landslide episodes have been evidenced.</p><p>In this work, we investigate the sensitivity of landslide-generated tsunami to the physical properties of marine sediments involved in the slope failures in the SW Iberia Margin. This includes the landslide dynamics, the tsunamigenic potential and the tsunami hazard extent. Based upon the MAGICLAND (Marine Geo-hazards Induced by Underwater Landslides in the SW Iberian Margin) project database, we select promising sizable submarine landslide scenarios. We then use an in-house developed two-layer numerical code (based on a Bingham visco-plastic model for the landslide and a non-linear shallow water model for the tsunami) to simulate both the landslide dynamics and the induced tsunami generation and propagation.</p><p>In a first stage, the numerical simulations are done considering uncertain sediments properties deduced from the literature. Next, we perform numerical simulations of the selected landslide scenarios using accurate geotechnical properties (mainly the in-situ shear strength obtained from undisturbed samples) determined by laboratory tests conducted on from the analysis of available marine gravity cores in the SW Iberian Margin. Results show that the geotechnical parameters significatively influence the simulation results of both the landslide dynamics and induced tsunami. Particularly, we noticed major effects on the landslide downslope deformation, failure speed, deposited thickness and run-out, which considerably control the momentum transferred to the generated tsunami wave. This demonstrates that the use of inappropriate material properties leads to a misquantification of landslide tsunamigenesis and hazard extent.</p><p>This work was financed by national funds through FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under the framework of the project MAGICLAND – Marine Geo-hazards Induced by Underwater Landslides in the SW Iberian Margin (PTDC/ CTA-GEO/30381/2017).</p>

scholarly journals A database of submarine landslides offshore West and Southwest Iberia

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Gamboa ◽  
Rachid Omira ◽  
Pedro Terrinha
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Submarine Landslide ◽  
Submarine Landslides ◽  
Gis Analysis ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Landslide Distribution ◽  
Marine Community ◽  
Iberian Margin ◽  
Underwater Landslides

AbstractSubmarine landslides are major geohazards occurring on distinct seabed domains ranging from shallow coastal areas to the deeper points of the ocean. The nature and relief of the seabed are key factors influencing the location and size of submarine landslides. Efforts have recently been made to compile databases of submarine landslide distribution and morphometry, a crucial task to assess submarine geohazards. The MAGICLAND (Marine Geo-hazards Induced by underwater Landslides in the SW Iberian Margin) database here presented contributed to that assessment offshore Portugal. Based on EMODnet bathymetric DEMs and GIS analysis, the morphometric properties of 1552 submarine landslides were analysed and wealth of 40 parameters was obtained. This dataset is now made available for the free use and benefit of the international marine community. Further contributions or analysis based on, and complementing the MAGICLAND database will be welcome.

scholarly journals From gravity cores to overpressure history: the importance of measured sediment physical properties in hydrogeological models

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Mencaroni ◽  
Jaume Llopart ◽  
Roger Urgeles ◽  
Sara Lafuerza ◽  
Eulàlia Gràcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Continental Margins ◽  
Submarine Slope ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Depositional Settings ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Facies Characterization

AbstractThe development of overpressure in continental margins is typically evaluated with hydrogeological models. Such approaches are used to both identify fluid flow patterns and to evaluate the development of high pore pressures within layers with particular physical properties that may promote slope instability. In some instances, these models are defined with sediment properties based on facies characterization and proxy values of porosity; permeability or compressibility are derived from the existing literature as direct measurements are rarely available. This study uses finite-element models to quantify the differences in computed overpressure generated by fine-grained hemipelagic sediments from the Gulf of Cadiz, offshore Martinique and the Gulf of Mexico, and their consequences in terms of submarine slope stability. By comparing our simulation results with in situ pore pressure data measured in the Gulf of Mexico, we demonstrate that physical properties measured on volcanic-influenced hemipelagic sediments underestimate the computed stability of a submarine slope. Physical properties measured on sediments from the study area are key to improving the reliability and accuracy of overpressure models, and when that information is unavailable, literature data from samples with similar lithologies, composition and depositional settings enable better assessment of the overpressure role as a pre-conditioning factor in submarine landslide initiation.

Numerical Simulations of Electric Field Driven Self-Assembly of Monolayers of Mixtures of Nanoparticles

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Amah ◽  
N. Musunuri ◽  
Ian S. Fischer ◽  
Pushpendra Singh
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Composite Particle ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulations ◽  
Composite Particles ◽  
Liquid Interfaces ◽  
Induced Dipole

We numerically study the process of self-assembly of particle mixtures on fluid-liquid interfaces when an electric field is applied in the direction normal to the interface. The force law for the dependence of the electric field induced dipole-dipole and capillary forces on the distance between the particles and their physical properties obtained in an earlier study by performing direct numerical simulations is used for conducting simulations. The inter-particle forces cause mixtures of nanoparticles to self-assemble into molecular-like hierarchical arrangements consisting of composite particles which are organized in a pattern. However, there is a critical electric intensity value below which particles move under the influence of Brownian forces and do not self-assemble. Above the critical value, when the particles sizes differed by a factor of two or more, the composite particle has a larger particle at its core and several smaller particles forming a ring around it. Approximately same sized particles, when their concentrations are approximately equal, form binary particles or chains (analogous to polymeric molecules) in which positively and negatively polarized particles alternate, but when their concentrations differ the particles whose concentration is larger form rings around the particles with smaller concentration.

scholarly journals Spectral properties of magnetohydrodynamic convection with mean horizontal temperature gradient

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S239) ◽  
pp. 513-513
Author(s):  
D. Skandera ◽  
W.-Ch. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Field ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Numerical Code ◽  
Dimensional System ◽  
Horizontal Temperature Gradient ◽  
Mhd Turbulence

AbstractSpectral properties of convective magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in two and three dimensions are studied by means of direct numerical simulations (Skandera D. & Müller W.-C. 2006). The investigated system is set up with a mean horizontal temperature gradient in order to avoid a development of elevator instabilities in a fully periodic box. All simulations are performed without mean magnetic field. The applied resolution is 5123 and 20482. The MHD equation are solved by a numerical code (Müller & Biskamp 2000) that uses a standard pseudospectral scheme. For removing of aliasing errors a spherical truncation method is employed. Obtained results are compared with predictions of various existing phenomenological theories for magnetohydrodynamic and convective turbulence (Müller & Biskamp 2000). While the three-dimensional system is found to operate in a Kolmogorov-like regime where buoyant forces have a negligible impact on the turbulence dynamics (relatively low Rayleigh number achieved in the simulation; Ra ∼106), the two-dimensional system exhibits interesting irregular quasi-oscillations between a buoyancy dominated Bolgiano-Obukhov-like regime of turbulence and a standard Iroshnikov-Kraichnan-like regime of turbulence (Müller & Biskamp 2000). The most important parameter determining the turbulent regime of 2D magnetoconvection, apart from a high Rayleigh number, seems to be the mutual alignment of velocity and magnetic fields. The non-linear dynamics and the interplay between individual fields are examined with different transfer functions that confirm basic assumptions about directions of energy transfer in spectral space. Kinetic, magnetic and temperature energy are transported by a turbulent cascade from large to smaller scales. The local/nonlocal character of the transport is tested for several individual terms in the governing equations. Moreover, other statistical quantities, e.g. probability density functions, are computed as well. A passive character of the temperature field in the investigated three-dimensional magnetoconvection is supported by computations of intermittency using extended self-similarity. The intermittency of the Elsasser field z+ is in agreement with results from numerical simulations of isotropic MHD turbulence (Müller & Biskamp 2000). The intermittency of the temperature field is found to approximately agree with results of passive scalar measurements in hydrodynamic turbulence (Ruiz-Chavarria, Baudet & Ciliberto 1996).

scholarly journals Probabilistic mapping of earthquake-induced submarine landslide susceptibility in the South-West Iberian margin

2020 ◽  
Vol 429 ◽  
pp. 106296
Author(s):  
Stefano Collico ◽  
Marcos Arroyo ◽  
Roger Urgeles ◽  
Eulàlia Gràcia ◽  
Marcelo Devincenzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landslide Susceptibility ◽  
Submarine Landslide ◽  
The South ◽  
Probabilistic Mapping ◽  
South West ◽  
Iberian Margin

Effects of physical properties of the breathing gas on decompression-sickness bubbles

1995 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 1828-1836 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Burkard ◽  
H. D. Van Liew
Keyword(s):  
Partition Coefficient ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Bubble Growth ◽  
Decompression Sickness ◽  
Inert Gases ◽  
Inert Gas ◽  
Half Time ◽  
Bubble Density ◽  
Mathematical Relationships

To explore the relative dangers of different inert gases, we developed mathematical relationships concerned with bubble growth, using equations that separate gas properties from other variables. Predictions for saturation exposures were as follows. 1) Peak volume of a bubble is proportional to solubility in tissue when bubble density is high and to the 3/2 power of the ratio of the permeation coefficient to the partition coefficient when density is low. 2) Bubble duration is inversely proportional to the partition coefficient for the inert gas. 3). Sizes and durations of bubbles for one inert gas relative to another depend on whether the tissue is aqueous or lipid but are independent of the magnitude of the decompression and tissue half time. 4). He should give smaller bubbles than N2, except in aqueous tissue with low bubble density; our prediction correlates qualitatively with relative dangers observed with animals but seems to overestimate the safety afforded by He. Numerical simulations illustrate how nonsaturation dives are less predictable because more variables are involved.

scholarly journals Application of Limit Equilibrium Analysis and Numerical Modeling in a Case of Slope Instability

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8870
Author(s):  
Fhatuwani Sengani ◽  
François Mulenga
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Limit Equilibrium ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Soil Mass ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Equilibrium Analysis ◽  
Limit Equilibrium Analysis ◽  
The Common

The application of limit equilibrium analysis and numerical simulation in case of slope instability is described. The purpose of the study was to use both limit equilibrium methods (LEMs) and numerical simulations (finite element method (FEM)) to understanding the common factor imposing the selected slope into slope instabilities. Field observations, toppling analysis, rotational analysis, and numerical simulations were performed. The results of the study showed that the selected unstable slopes were associated with the sliding types of toppling; it was observed that the slopes were governed by tension cracks and layered soil mass and dominated with approximately two joints sets throughout. The simulated factor of safety (FoS) of the slopes composed of clay soil was denoted to be prone to slope instability while others were categorized as moderately stable. The simulated FoS of the slopes correlated very well with the visual observations; however, it is anticipated that properties of soil mass and other characteristics of the slopes contributed largely to the simulated FoS. The sensitivity of the model was further tested by looking into the effect of the slope angle on the stability of the slope. The results of the simulations showed that the steeper the slope, the more they become prone to instability. Lastly, Phase 2 numerical simulation (FEM) showed that volumetric strain, shear stress, shear strain, total displacement, and σ1 and σ3 components of the slope increase with the stages of the road construction. It was concluded improper road construction, steepness of the slope, slope properties (soil types), and multiple geological features cutting across are the common mechanisms behind the slope instability.

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