Recovery of deep-sea meiofauna community in Kaikōura Canyon following an earthquake-triggered turbidity flow.

Turbidity flows can transport massive amounts of sediment across large distances with dramatic, long-lasting impacts on deep-sea benthic communities. The 2016 M 7.8 Kaikōura Earthquake triggered a canyon-flushing event in Kaikōura Canyon, New Zealand, which included significant submarine mass wasting, debris, and turbidity flows.

Earthquakes drive large-scale submarine canyon development and sediment supply to deep-ocean basins.

Although the global flux of sediment and carbon from land to the coastal ocean is well known, the volume of material that reaches the deep ocean-the ultimate sink-and the mechanisms by which it is transferred are poorly documented. Using a globally unique data set of repeat seafloor measurements and samples, we show that the moment magnitude () 7.8 November 2016 Kaikōura earthquake (New Zealand) triggered widespread landslides in a submarine canyon, causing a powerful "canyon flushing" event and turbidity current that traveled >680 km along one of the world's longest deep-sea channels.

Natural turbidity variability and weather forecasts in risk management of anthropogenic sediment discharge near sensitive environments.

Coastal development activities can cause local increases in turbidity and sedimentation. This study characterises the spatial and temporal variability of turbidity near an inshore fringing coral reef in the central Great Barrier Reef, under a wide range of natural conditions. Based on the observed natural variability, we outline a risk management scheme to minimise the impact of construction-related turbidity increases.