ALBorAn sea subMARine landslides (ALBAMAR): link between tectonic activity, seismicity and sedimentation and their impact in hazard assessment – ALBAMAR

The Alboran Sea is one of the most geologically active areas in the Mediterranean where submarine landslides with a tsunamigenic potential are present. The links between landslides, seismicity and tectonic movements are not obvious: the distribution of epicentres does not reflect the distribution of landslides; the mobilised material of target landslides is larger on gentle slopes. The stability of slopes seems to be controlled by interactions between several factors. The target area holds a variability in the distribution and type of slope instabilities. It therefore constitutes an appropriate key area to investigate how factors such as bottom current contourite deposition, fluid seepage and tectonic uplift precondition the stability of slopes and their link with seismic activity. The ALBAMAR project aims at understanding submarine landslides occurrence and frequency, to constrain the probability of future slope failures in the southern part of the Alboran Sea, for assessing landslide and tsunami hazard in this densely coastal populated region.