A study led by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has found that natural hazards account for around a quarter of all recorded instances of subsea cable damage between 1965 and 2019,
A study led by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has found that natural hazards account for around a quarter of all recorded instances of subsea cable damage between 1965 and 2019, posing a threat to the growing infrastructure underpinning global connectivity.
While human activities like fishing and anchoring remain the primary causes of damage, the study warns that climate change is intensifying many natural hazards, increasing risks to these vital networks.
The threats from natural hazards range from earthquakes and submarine landslides to powerful underwater currents triggered by river floods.
“These events can damage cables, bury them under sediment, or render them inoperable,” said Dr. Isobel Yeo, a researcher at NOC and co-lead on the project. “With climate change driving more extreme weather, rising sea levels and sediment-laden river discharges, the frequency and severity of these hazards are expected to grow, amplifying the challenges of maintaining resilient subsea infrastructure.”
The vulnerabilities were starkly illustrated by the 2022 Hunga Volcano eruption in Tonga. Underwater density currents generated by the eruption destroyed Tonga’s sole international cable, isolating the nation for weeks and severely hindering emergency response efforts.
Similarly, powerful turbidity currents in the Congo Canyon, driven by record-breaking floods, have repeatedly damaged
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
