Mass-transport complexes (MTCs), mass-transport deposits (MTDs), and associated facies and features are widely recognized in continental slopes around the world. In most current stratigraphic models of MTCs and MTDs, these submarine sediment failures are related to aquifer outflow (sapping, seepage) along continental slope fronts that originated during relative sea-level fall. We test a hypothetical scenario that is favored during early forced regression using reduced-scale physical simulation. A major underground subaerial hydraulic gradient is assumed to flow towards the basin depocenter as a function of relative sea-level fall. We developed an experimental apparatus with slope angles varying between 15 and 30° to test this concept. Hydraulic gradients, aquifer outflow velocities, and triggered collapses induced by the seepage effect were recorded at various positions of the slope. Analysis shows that steeper slope gradients require lower seepage velocities (and shear stresses) to trigger collapse, but gentler slopes remain unchanged. Experimental data are compatible with a seepage effect that could potentially trigger mass failure and the formation of MTCs during relative sea-level fall. The features produced in the experiment have geometries comparable to natural environments, and the experimental seepage velocities are of an order of magnitude similar to those monitored in submarine aquifers. The experimental results advance understanding of mass transport in continental slopes by introducing and testing new methods, and also provide new insights into potential submarine geohazard risks where tectonic uplift operates along some coastal regions.

中文翻译：

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渗流引发的大陆坡失稳：一种实验方法

大众运输综合体（MTC），大众运输矿床（MTD）以及相关的相貌和特征在世界各地的陆坡中得到广泛认可。在当前的大多数MTC和MTD地层模型中，这些海底沉积物破坏与沿相对海平面下降而产生的大陆坡前缘的含水层流出（流失，渗流）有关。我们使用缩小规模的物理模拟测试了一种在早期强制回归过程中受到青睐的假设情景。假定主要的地下地下水力梯度是根据相对海平面下降而流向盆地沉积中心的。我们开发了一种实验设备，其倾斜角在15至30°之间变化，以测试这一概念。水力梯度，含水层流出速度，并在边坡的各个位置记录了由渗流效应引起的触发倒塌。分析表明，较陡的坡度需要较低的渗透速度（和切应力）来触发倒塌，但较缓的坡度保持不变。实验数据与可能在相对海平面下降期间触发质量破坏和MTC形成的渗流效应兼容。实验中产生的特征具有可与自然环境相媲美的几何形状，并且实验的渗流速度与海底含水层中监测到的渗流速度相似。实验结果通过引入和测试新方法，加深了人们对大陆斜坡上的物质运输的认识，