Mysterious 9-Day Seismic Event Caused by 650-Foot Tsunami

Last year, a seismic event that astonished researchers was triggered by a tsunami resulting from a landslide in a Greenland fjord, which was linked to the melting of ice. This finding was disclosed by a researcher to AFP on Friday.

A recent report published in the scientific journal Science revealed that the tremors, which lasted for nine days in September 2023, originated from a massive wave that rocked back and forth in the Dickson fjord, located in a remote eastern region of Greenland.

Kristian Svennevig, an author of the report from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, commented on the unprecedented nature of the event: “What is truly unique here is the duration of the seismic signal and the consistency of its frequency.”

He went on to explain that while other landslides and tsunamis have produced seismic signals, those typically lasted only a few hours and were observed locally. In contrast, this particular seismic event was detected globally, even reaching the Antarctic.

The scientific community was initially taken aback by this phenomenon, initially categorizing it as an “unidentified seismic object” before determining its origin was indeed the landslide.

In September 2023, approximately 882 million cubic feet of rock and ice—an amount equivalent to 25 Empire State Buildings—plummeted into the Dickson fjord, located around 124 miles from the ocean.

This landslide gave rise to a mega-tsunami, towering at 650 feet at its epicenter. Waves traveling over 40 miles away reached heights exceeding a dozen feet, causing damage to a research facility on the island of Ella.

Stephen Hicks, a scientist with a doctorate in earth sciences who contributed to the report, remarked, “When colleagues first detected this signal last year, it bore no resemblance to an earthquake. It persisted, appearing every 90 seconds for nine days.”

Upon further investigation, a team of scientists convened on an online chat platform to discuss the peculiar signal. They developed a model illustrating how the wave oscillated back and forth over a prolonged period.

“We have never observed such a large-scale movement of water sustained over such an extended timeframe,” Hicks elaborated.

The landslide’s origin was traced back to the thinning glacier at the mountain’s base, a process exacerbated by climate change, according to the report’s findings.

With the Arctic region continuing to heat up, Svennevig expressed concern that we might witness a rise in both the frequency and intensity of such events in the future. He stated, “We are facing a situation with an Arctic environment warmer than any we have previously experienced.”

Svennevig also indicated the importance of establishing early warning systems; however, he acknowledged the considerable challenges posed by the extreme environmental conditions.

This striking event sheds light on the complexities and urgent implications of climate change, underscoring the need for heightened awareness and preparation for similar occurrences going forward.