Tremors Beneath the Surface: Monitoring Deep-Ocean Avalanches and Earthquakes

Episodic avalanches of sediment, called turbidity currents, sculpt channels and deep canyons on the seafloor. The avalanches are triggered when sediment accumulates and becomes unstable. The flows themselves are highly energetic and are capable of breaking communication cables and oil pipelines. I will describe how we monitor these flows and how one such flow ran out for over a thousand kilometers, breaking two communication cables that affected internet connectivity across southern Africa.

Ever wondered how marine invertebrates detect sound? With everything that is now being installed in our oceans, understanding the effects on marine life is vital. Marine invertebrates do not hear sound in the same way we do, however, they still detect it and are sensitive to this noise. Offshore structures are producing lots of noise throughout their lifecycle, this talk will explain how marine invertebrates hear and the potential effects on them