Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition
Abstract Low-strength sediment layers within continental slope strata precondition submarine sediment for failure, potentially leading to destructive tsunamis. Using geophysical and Ocean Drilling Program well data, here we show that the glide planes of widespread submarine failures in the northern...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62493-4 |
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| author | Xingxing Wang Vittorio Maselli Luca Flessati Hongbin Wang Zhilei Sun Qing Wang Jie Chen Qing Li Stefano Alberti Markus Kienast Shucheng Xie Qiliang Sun |
| author_facet | Xingxing Wang Vittorio Maselli Luca Flessati Hongbin Wang Zhilei Sun Qing Wang Jie Chen Qing Li Stefano Alberti Markus Kienast Shucheng Xie Qiliang Sun |
| author_sort | Xingxing Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Low-strength sediment layers within continental slope strata precondition submarine sediment for failure, potentially leading to destructive tsunamis. Using geophysical and Ocean Drilling Program well data, here we show that the glide planes of widespread submarine failures in the northern South China Sea, dated to the glacial stages following the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, have higher opal content, particle size, and porosity, which reduce the undrained shear strength. Cyclic weak-layer deposition, modulated at Milankovitch time scale, was controlled by increased ocean primary productivity and sedimentation rates linked to high-amplitude sea-level fluctuations and intensified winter monsoons. This study represents an important step forward for understanding how climate influences the formation of weak layers and the stability of continental slope globally. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7d685518d7bc4bd0bcb77977b4ce9eea |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-7d685518d7bc4bd0bcb77977b4ce9eea2025-08-20T03:05:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-62493-4Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer depositionXingxing Wang0Vittorio Maselli1Luca Flessati2Hongbin Wang3Zhilei Sun4Qing Wang5Jie Chen6Qing Li7Stefano Alberti8Markus Kienast9Shucheng Xie10Qiliang Sun11Hubei Key Laboratory of Marine Geological Resources, China University of GeosciencesDepartment of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyKey Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine GeologyKey Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine GeologyHubei Key Laboratory of Marine Geological Resources, China University of GeosciencesSchool of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (East China)Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine GeologyCollege of Forestry, Oregon State UniversityDepartment of Oceanography, Dalhousie UniversityState Key Laboratory of Geobiogeology and Environmental Changes, China University of GeosciencesHubei Key Laboratory of Marine Geological Resources, China University of GeosciencesAbstract Low-strength sediment layers within continental slope strata precondition submarine sediment for failure, potentially leading to destructive tsunamis. Using geophysical and Ocean Drilling Program well data, here we show that the glide planes of widespread submarine failures in the northern South China Sea, dated to the glacial stages following the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, have higher opal content, particle size, and porosity, which reduce the undrained shear strength. Cyclic weak-layer deposition, modulated at Milankovitch time scale, was controlled by increased ocean primary productivity and sedimentation rates linked to high-amplitude sea-level fluctuations and intensified winter monsoons. This study represents an important step forward for understanding how climate influences the formation of weak layers and the stability of continental slope globally.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62493-4 |
| spellingShingle | Xingxing Wang Vittorio Maselli Luca Flessati Hongbin Wang Zhilei Sun Qing Wang Jie Chen Qing Li Stefano Alberti Markus Kienast Shucheng Xie Qiliang Sun Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition Nature Communications |
| title | Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition |
| title_full | Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition |
| title_fullStr | Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition |
| title_short | Preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak-layer deposition |
| title_sort | preconditioning of sediment failure by astronomically paced weak layer deposition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62493-4 |
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