Regional Slope Stability Assessment Along the Caucasian Shelf of the Black Sea

Construction of submarine pipelines across the Caucasian shelf of the Black Sea draws a necessity of a detailed study of submarine landslides, which were discovered during a recent survey. The most probable triggers for landslide generation for the Caucasian shelf include earthquakes, wave loading and human activity. Slope stability assessment of the study area was carried out in order to reveal the most important triggering mechanisms. 1-D slope stability modelling was implemented for the purpose of landslide prediction. Gravity force, seismic loading and storm waves' loading were taken into consideration in the present slope stability assessment. The results indicate that for static conditions, landslides formation would most probably occur within the shelf break area where the surface inclination is similar to 30 degrees. For the shelf area, landslide formation only occurs with additional triggers, such as seismic or wave loading.