Geomorphology of the Talismán Slide (Western slope of Hatton Bank, NE Atlantic Ocean)

The Spanish interdisciplinary research project ECOVUL/ARPA focuses on the western slope of Hatton Bank (NE Atlantic Ocean). As part of this project, interpretation of multibeam bathymetry data, very high resolution seismic profiles and sediment samples collected by the Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia, permitted to identify the Talisman Slide, an underwater landslide developed within the deep-water sediments of the Hatton Drift. Within the slipped mass, present day sea-bed morphology is rough, comprising blocks, ridges, steps and secondary slides. Seismic profiles show the slide mass to be supported by a sequence of contouritic deposits. Trigger mechanism for the Talisman Slide is likely a combination of several causative factors such as erosion (caused by bottom currents) and an earthquake event which accelerated the slide process.

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