A recent study has revealed that a mega-tsunami triggered by a landslide in Greenland caused the Earth to vibrate for an astonishing nine days. The landslide, which occurred last September, involved the collapse of a mountain peak standing 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) high, causing water in the adjacent fjord to create significant oscillations that propagated vibrations through the Earth’s crust.
Researchers, including scientists from University College London (UCL), identified that the glacier at the base of the mountain had thinned, a condition attributed to climate change. This research, focusing on the phenomenon that originated above Dickson Fjord in eastern Greenland, left experts “completely baffled,” according to Dr. Stephen Hicks, a co-author of the study.
Dr. Hicks noted that this incident marks the first recorded case of water sloshing generating vibrations that traveled globally and persisted for several days. He emphasized that while seismometers typically pick up various activities occurring on the Earth’s surface, this particular event was unique due to the long-lasting seismic waves comprised of a single frequency.
The study showcases the complex relationships between atmospheric climate change, the destabilization of glacier ice, movements in water bodies, and the solid crust of the Earth. To illustrate how the water continued to splash over an extended period, researchers employed a mathematical model to replicate the angle of the landslide. Their findings indicate that the water splashed every 90 seconds, transmitting vibrations throughout the Earth’s crust, resulting in one of the largest tsunamis recorded in recent history.
The tsunami wave reportedly extended 10 kilometers (7.4 miles) across the fjord and rose to a height of 110 meters, although it diminished to 7 meters within minutes, according to estimates published in the journal Science.