Abstract Submarine landslides triggered by earthquakes can generate turbidity currents. Recently, several studies have reported that the remobilization of surface sediment triggered by earthquakes can also generate turbidity currents. Such sedimentary processes may be influenced by sediment characteristics, seafloor morphology and seismic motions. Here, we verify surface sediment remobilization using sedimentary records from the Nankai forearc region, SW Japan. We collected multi-core and piston core samples from a small confined basin, mainly composed of silty clay or very fine sand. Radiocaesium measurements of the multi-core show consistently high values in the upper 17 cm and low values below this depth. Rapid sediment deposition after 1950 is assumed, and the most likely cause is the 2004 off the Kii Peninsula earthquake. Based on calculations using bathymetric maps and palaeocurrent data, settlement of the upper 17 cm can be explained by redeposition of the surface ( c. 1 cm) slope sediment around the basin. Muddy turbidites are also identified in the piston core. The gap in radiocarbon age observed around 2.0 m bsf (metres below seafloor) implies similar sedimentary processes. Our study represents the first examination of surficial remobilization from sedimentary cores in the Nankai forearc region.

Abstract A M w 7.2 earthquake centred beneath the upper Laurentian Fan of the SW Newfoundland continental slope triggered a damaging turbidity current and tsunami on 18 November 1929. The turbidity current broke telecommunication cables, and the tsunami killed 28 people and caused major infrastructure damage along the south coast of Newfoundland. Both events are believed to have been derived from sediment mass failure as a result of the earthquake. This study aims to identify the volume and kinematics of the 1929 slope failure in order to understand the geohazard potential of this style of sediment failure. Ultra-high-resolution seismic reflection and multibeam swath bathymetry data are used to determine: (1) the dimension of the failure area; (2) the thickness and volume of failed sediment; (3) fault patterns and displacements; and (4) styles of sediment failure. The total failure area at St Pierre Slope is estimated to be 5200 km 2 , recognized by escarpments, debris fields and eroded zones on the seafloor. Escarpments are typically 20–100 m high, suggesting failed sediment consisted of this uppermost portion of the sediment column. Landslide deposits consist mostly of debris flows with evidence of translational, retrogressive sliding in deeper water (>1700 m) and evidence of instantaneous sediment failure along fault scarps in shallower water (730–1300 m). Two failure mechanisms therefore seem to be involved in the 1929 submarine landslide: faulting and translation. The main surficial sediment failure concentrated along the deep-water escarpments consisted of widely distributed, translational, retrogressive failure that liquefied to become a debris flow and rapidly evolved into a massive channelized turbidity current. Although most of the surficial failures occurred at these deeper head scarps, their deep-water location and retrogressive nature make them an unlikely main contributor to the tsunami generation. The localized fault scarps in shallower water are a more likely candidate for the generation of the tsunami, but further research is needed in order to address the characteristics of these fault scarps.