A Bathymetric Study of the Levant Basin, Offshore Lebanon: Identifying the Various Morpho-Structural Features Within the Region

Abstract

Marine Geomorphology studies the creation, alteration, characteristics, and arrangement of geological features found on the seafloor. Seafloor features form through various processes, such as bottom currents, faulting, and submarine landslides. This project focuses on the seafloor geomorphology in the northern Levant Basin, offshore Lebanon in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. 

In this basin, several geomorphological features can be observed on the seafloor. Fault scarps, folds, sediment waveforms, and turbidite channels occur throughout the area. The mapping of all the geomorphological features revealed their diversity in this specific portion of the Levant Basin. However, despite the considerable number, the specific formation processes and characteristics of these features have yet to be investigated in the northern Levant Basin. The importance of understanding seafloor features has been recognized in recent years. Interpreting these features is vital for geohazard risk assessment for structures built on the seafloor, such as pipelines, windfarms, platforms for hydrocarbon extraction, and cables. This project aims to fill unexplored gaps in understanding these geomorphological features, leading to a better understanding of the Levant Basin and its modern sedimentary processes.