A recent study reveals that a mega-tsunami triggered by a landslide in Greenland caused vibrations within the Earth for a duration of nine days. The collapse of a mountain peak, standing 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) high, last September led to significant water movement in the fjord below, producing vibrations that reached deep into the Earth’s crust.
The research indicates that this landslide was influenced by the thinning of glacier ice at the mountain’s base, a phenomenon attributed to climate change. Scientists from University College London (UCL) contributed to this groundbreaking study, which took place above Dickson Fjord in eastern Greenland.
Dr. Stephen Hicks, a co-author of the study, expressed how astonished researchers were by the findings. He noted, “This is the first time we’ve documented vibrations caused by water sloshing that traveled globally and persisted for days.” He emphasized that, while seismometers typically capture various earth surface activities, such an enduring seismic wave consisting of a single oscillation frequency has never been recorded before.
The study also highlights the complex links between atmospheric climate change, glacier destabilization in polar regions, water movements, and the solid crust of the Earth. Researchers utilized a mathematical model to recreate the landslide’s angles, demonstrating that the water continued to splash for nine days, occurring approximately every 90 seconds. This resulted in sending vibrations across the globe and contributing to one of the most substantial tsunamis in recent times.
The tsunami produced a wave that reached 10 kilometers (7.4 miles) across the fjord and rose 110 meters into the air, though it decreased to 7 meters within a few minutes, according to estimates provided in the study published in the journal Science.