Greenland - September 12, 2024

Location: Dickson Fjord, East Greenland

In a revelation that underscores the unpredictable effects of climate change, a study published today in Science details how a climate-induced landslide in East Greenland's Dickson Fjord unleashed a mega-tsunami, reaching heights of 650 feet. This event, which occurred in September 2023, produced a unique seismic signal lasting nine days, baffling scientists worldwide until its source was identified.

The catastrophic event began when a glacier, melted by rising temperatures, destabilized over 25 million cubic meters of rock and ice, equivalent to filling 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This massive volume collapsed into the sea, generating a wave so powerful it oscillated within the fjord, creating a phenomenon known as a seiche. The continuous back-and-forth motion of the water caused a seismic signal with a 92-second interval between peaks, unlike any earthquake signal and persisting far longer than typical seismic events.

"This was an extraordinary scientific puzzle," stated Kristian Svennevig, lead author from GEUS. "It required a global effort from our scientific community to link the seismic signal to this landslide and understand its implications."

The study, spearheaded by an international team including experts like Alice Gabriel and Carl Ebeling from UC San Diego, utilized a range of methodologies from seismic data analysis to high-resolution computer simulations. These simulations successfully replicated the tsunami's behavior, confirming the landslide's role in initiating the seiche that produced the prolonged seismic waves.

While the area was uninhabited, the tsunami caused significant damage to infrastructure, costing around $200,000 at a research station on Ella Island. More concerning, however, is the broader implication for regions increasingly at risk due to climate change.

"Climate change is not just about rising temperatures; it's about shifting landscapes and creating new hazards," remarked Gabriel, highlighting how such events could become more common as polar ice continues to melt.

The findings serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in monitoring polar regions, especially as they become more accessible to human activities like tourism. The 2017 landslide in Karrat Fjord, which led to loss of life, underscores the potential human impact of such natural disasters.

The study not only solves a scientific mystery but also propels forward our understanding of earth systems in the face of a changing climate. Researchers are now encouraged to revisit historical seismic data for similar signals, potentially uncovering missed events and aiding in the prediction of future occurrences.

"This discovery opens up a new chapter in our understanding of how climate change can trigger geological events," concluded Ebeling, emphasizing the ongoing role of science in uncovering nature's secrets and preparing for its future challenges.