Changes in the frequency, scale, and failing areas of latest Quaternary (<29.4 cal. ka B.P.) slope failures along the SW Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea), inferred from depositional characters of densely dated turbidite successions

Abstract

The depositional characters of densely dated turbidite successions originating from the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin reveal changes in high-resolution frequency, failing areas, and relative volumes of slope failures over the past 29.4 cal. ka. Between 29.4 and 19.1 cal. ka B.P., various thin- to very thick-bedded turbidites accumulated at an average recurrence interval of ca. 605 years. After 19.1 cal. ka B.P., turbidites were deposited with an average recurrence interval of 3,183 years, and their thickness abruptly decreased upward. These features suggest that various-scale slope failures occurred frequently during the eustatic lowering of sea level, and the frequency and relative volumes of slope failures suddenly decreased after sea level began to rise. When sea level was lowest (20.0–19.1 cal. ka B.P.), successive stacks of very thick turbidites can most likely be ascribed to larger-volume mass failures. An upward change from muddy to sandy turbidites around 21.4 cal. ka B.P. suggests that the failing areas retrograded from the muddy upper-middle slope to the sandy uppermost slope when sea level was nearly at its lowest. Based on these findings together with published evidence, frequent mass failures between 29.4 and 19.1 cal. ka B.P. were plausibly triggered by earthquakes, in combination with reduced hydrostatic pressure that promoted gas-hydrate dissolution during the eustatic lowering of sea level. These data on the frequency, scale, failing areas, and triggering causes of slope failures along the southwestern margin over the past 29.4 cal. ka, not documented in earlier studies, provide invaluable information to better understand the basin-scale characters and occurrences of latest Quaternary slope failures in the Ulleung Basin.