Potential for large-scale submarine slope failure and tsunami generation along the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast

Research Article| May 01, 2000 Potential for large-scale submarine slope failure and tsunami generation along the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast Neal W. Driscoll; Neal W. Driscoll 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeffrey K. Weissel; Jeffrey K. Weissel 2Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John A. Goff John A. Goff 3Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78759, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Neal W. Driscoll 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Jeffrey K. Weissel 2Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964, USA John A. Goff 3Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78759, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 09 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 18 Jan 2000 Accepted: 31 Jan 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (5): 407–410. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<407:PFLSSF>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 09 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 18 Jan 2000 Accepted: 31 Jan 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Neal W. Driscoll, Jeffrey K. Weissel, John A. Goff; Potential for large-scale submarine slope failure and tsunami generation along the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. Geology 2000;; 28 (5): 407–410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<407:PFLSSF>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The outer continental shelf off southern Virginia and North Carolina might be in the initial stages of large-scale slope failure. A system of en echelon cracks, resembling small-offset normal faults, has been discovered along the outer shelf edge. Swath bathymetric data indicate that about 50 m of down-to-the-east (basinward) normal slip has occurred on these features. From a societal perspective, we need to evaluate the degree of tsunami hazard that might be posed by a major submarine landslide, such as the nearby late Pleistocene Albemarle-Currituck slide, if it nucleated on the newly discovered crack system. Toward this goal, a tsunami scenario is constructed for the nearby coastal zone based on the estimated volume and nature of the potential slide. Although a maximum tsunami height of a few to several meters is predicted, the actual extent of flooding would depend on the tidal state at the time of tsunami arrival as well as the details of the hinterland topography. The Virginia–North Carolina coastline and lower Chesapeake Bay would be most at risk, being nearby, low lying, and in a direction opposite to potential slide motion. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.