Greenland Landslide Sends Earth Shaking for 9 Days: Unveiling a Mega-Tsunami and Seismic Enigma

A colossal landslide in eastern Greenland in September 2023 unleashed a series of unprecedented events, including a 200-meter-high tsunami and a mysterious nine-day seismic signal that baffled scientists worldwide. According to a new study published in Science, landslide resulted from collapse of a glacier in Dickson Fjord, a remote and rugged part of Greenland. chain reaction from this event sent shockwaves through scientific community, as a rare seismic phenomenon was detected globally.

Mysterious Signal Baffles Scientists after Greenland Landslide

seismic activity, which was initially misunderstood, puzzled experts across globe. "We were like, ‘Oh wow, this signal is still coming in. This is completely different to an earthquake,’" said Stephen Hicks, a seismologist at University College London, in an interview with CNN. What me this event even more unusual was its duration. "It kept appearing – every 90 seconds for nine days," Hicks ded.

Typically, earthquakes produce vibrations that last a few minutes at most. However, prolonged seismic activity—referred to as an unidentified seismic object (USO)—challenged conventional understanding. signal was traced back to eastern Greenland, though pinpointing exact cause initially proved difficult.

Landslide and Tsunami Uncovered as Cause

Eventually, a team of researchers from Denmark connected mysterious seismic signals to a landslide-triggered tsunami in Dickson Fjord. event required collaboration of 68 scientists from 15 countries to solve puzzle of nine-day seismic signal.

At heart of discovery was a massive cascing hazard, linked to effects of climate change. glacier, weakened by years of accelerated melting due to rising Arctic temperatures, h reached a critical thinning point. On September 16, 2023, a huge section of mountain above glacier collapsed, sending debris—enough to fill 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools—crashing into fjord.

resulting mega-tsunami, 200 meters high, was trapped in narrow confines of Dickson Fjord. This trapped wave led to a phenomenon known as a "seiche," where water oscillates back and forth within a confined space, creating rhythmic movement. This sloshing effect, which persisted for nine days, generated seismic energy that was detected worldwide.

New Discovery in Seismic Science

"H I suggested a year ago that a seiche could persist for nine days, people would shake ir hes and say that’s impossible," remarked Dr. Kristian Svennevig from Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, le author of study. He likened discovery to "suddenly finding a new color in a rainbow."

This groundbreaking event not only highlights potential hazards of climate change-induced glacial collapses but also opens new avenues of study in field of seismology. discovery of nine-day seiche has broened scientists' understanding of seismic phenomena, offering insight into how large-scale environmental changes can ripple through both Earth’s oceans and its seismic systems.

Greenland landslide and its seismic aftermath stand as a reminder of powerful, interconnected forces at play in natural world—forces that scientists are only beginning to fully understand.