Gas Hydrate Dissociation Events During LGM and Their Potential Trigger of Submarine Landslides: Foraminifera and Geochemical Records From Two Cores in the Northern South China Sea

Although submarine slope failures and occurrence of gas hydrates are well known in the Dongsha area of the South China Sea the potential relationship between the aforementioned phenomena has not been clearly understood yet. Herein, we present carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of benthic foraminifera and sulfur isotopic composition of chromium reducible sulfur (CRS; delta S-34(CRS)) from two cores from the Dongsha slope, aiming at identifying gas hydrate dissociation events in geological history. The geochemical data indicated that a large amount of gas hydrate dissociated at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Meanwhile, disturbances in the sedimentary strata revealed that a submarine landslide occurred at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Moreover, the associated abrupt increase of benthic foraminifera abundance implies that the submarine landslide was probably caused by an intense methane releasing from gas hydrate dissociation. A smaller scale submarine landslide related to gas hydrate dissociation was also recorded in core 973-5, retrieved from the flat area at the base of the slope.

Automated summary

Research indicates that a large amount of gas hydrate dissociated in the Dongsha slope of the South China Sea, leading to submarine landslides at the beginning and end of the Last Glacial Maximum respectively. Additionally, a smaller scale submarine landslide related to gas hydrate dissociation was recorded in a core retrieved from the base of the slope.