A recent study has revealed that a mega-tsunami triggered by a landslide in Greenland caused the Earth to vibrate for nine consecutive days. The incident, which took place last September, was initiated by the collapse of a mountain peak measuring 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) in height. This led to water in the fjord below being disturbed and creating vibrations that extended to the Earth’s crust. Researchers attributed the landslide to the thinning of the glacier at the mountain’s base, a phenomenon attributed to climate change.
The researchers, including scientists from University College London (UCL), expressed their astonishment at this newly observed phenomenon that originated above Dickson Fjord in eastern Greenland. Dr. Stephen Hicks, a co-author of the study, stated, “This is the first time that water sloshing has been recorded as vibrations that travel through the Earth’s crust, impacting regions around the globe and persisting for several days.”
He elaborated that although seismometers typically capture various surface events, a long-lasting seismic wave with a single frequency like this has never been documented before. The research illustrates the complex relationships among atmospheric climate change, destabilization of glacial ice, movements of water bodies, and the solid Earth’s crust.
Researchers simulated the landslide’s angle using a mathematical model to show how the water continued to splash for nine days, estimating that the disturbances occurred approximately every 90 seconds, propagating vibrations throughout the Earth’s crust and creating one of the largest tsunamis in recent history. The wave initially stretched 10 kilometers (7.4 miles) across the fjord and reached a height of 110 meters but diminished to 7 meters within minutes, according to the study published in the journal Science.