"Massive underwater avalanche discovered that swept across the Atlantic 60,000 years ago."

A recent marine research study has shed light on a cataclysmic event that took place on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean approximately 60,000 years ago. The study, conducted by a team of scientists led by Dr. Chris Stevenson from the University of Liverpool, has mapped a gigantic underwater avalanche that grew disproportionately in size and strength, sweeping across the ocean floor for 2,000 kilometers off the northwest coast of Africa. This discovery is not only fascinating from a scientific standpoint but also raises important questions about the geological risks we face today. The underwater avalanche began as a modest landslide on the seabed, with a volume of approximately 1.5 cubic kilometers. However, over the course of its journey, it transformed into a phenomenon of extraordinary magnitude, increasing its size more than 100 times as it picked up sediments, rocks, and other materials while moving through the Agadir Canyon, one of the largest underwater trenches in the world. Exhibiting astonishing violence and energy, this avalanche deeply eroded the canyon, affecting a total area of approximately 4,500 square kilometers. Dr. Stevenson explains that the avalanche was so powerful that it managed to carry boulders to heights exceeding 130 meters along the canyon walls. This devastating power stands in stark contrast to what is known about other types of avalanches and landslides on the surface, which, while destructive, are much easier to detect and analyze. Underwater avalanches, on the other hand, are nearly invisible, and their study has become a challenge for scientists. The research team employed a meticulous approach to understand this avalanche. More than 300 core samples obtained during scientific cruises over the last four decades were analyzed, along with seismic and bathymetric data that allowed for the mapping of this avalanche. "This is the first time anyone has managed to map a complete underwater avalanche of this size and calculate its growth factor," said Dr. Stevenson, highlighting the significance of this effort in the context of marine geology. The magnitude of the phenomenon is difficult to imagine. According to Dr. Stevenson, the growth of the avalanche can be compared to the size of a skyscraper moving at a speed of 65 kilometers per hour, creating a trench 30 meters deep and 15 kilometers wide in its wake. "Then, this avalanche spreads over an area larger than the United Kingdom, covering it with a meter of sand and mud," the researcher added, emphasizing the scale of destruction that occurred. Dr. Christoph Bottner, co-leader of the research and professor at Aarhus University, complemented the findings by noting that the growth factor of the avalanche is at least 100, far exceeding the growth observed in snow avalanches or debris flows, which typically only increase by 4 to 8 times. This discovery has led the team to wonder if this phenomenon of extreme growth is specific to underwater avalanches and to consider the possibility of further research to delve into this behavior. In the context of the implications of these findings, Professor Sebastian Krastel, head of marine geophysics at the University of Kiel and a lead scientist on the research cruises, emphasized the importance of understanding these events. "Studying these avalanches is crucial for assessing the geological risk they pose to underwater infrastructure, such as internet cables that are essential for modern communications," Krastel stressed. The research not only provides insight into the geological past but also reveals how phenomena of this magnitude can pose significant risks today. Critical infrastructure, which supports our daily activities and the global economy, could be threatened by these natural events that, although they occurred thousands of years ago, offer valuable lessons for contemporary society. As science advances and new techniques are developed to study the oceans, it is essential to continue exploring these mysteries of the past. Understanding how underwater avalanches behave and their destructive potential is not only an academic triumph but also an imperative for the safety of our communities and the protection of our critical infrastructure in an increasingly interconnected world.