Good reasons for IODP to address submarine geohazards : (with focus on the Mediterranean)

Following a number of international workshop held in the last few years, this documents synthesise the reasons why future scientific ocean drilling should prioritize geohazards among the scientific objectives. In essence the reasons are the societal relevance, the opportunity to deepen the knowledge of basic geological processes in basin evolution, and the opportunity for technological development. A focus in placed on the Mediterranean Basin because of its high vulnerability to submarine geohazards, and to the known widespread occurrence (in the present and in the recent geological record) of geohazards. Among geohazards of the Mediterranean, a focus is placed on the submarine landslides because of their potential to affect seabed structure and the coastline via the tsunamis they can generate. A list of technological needs and a list of the international workshops is added for reference at the end of the document. Godkänd; 2009; Bibliografisk uppgift: Serie: White Paper on Geohazards; 20091215 (ysko)