“Mega-tsunami” in Greenland causes world to vibrate for nine days

The Earth was left vibrating for nine days after a “mega-tsunami”, and it had huge consequences you probably don’t know about.

A “mega-tsunami”, triggered by a massive landslide, caused the Earth to vibrate for a staggering nine days, researchers have found.

Scientists were left baffled when a seismic signal was detected on sensors around the world in September last year.

Now, an investigation carried out by an international team of scientists, has found the seismic event was triggered by the collapse of a 1,200-metre-high mountain peak in Greenland.

The peak – comprising of 25 million cubic metres of rock – collapsed into the remote Dickson fjord in eastern Greenland on September 16, 2023, sparking a 200m “mega-tsunami” – one of the highest tsunamis in recent history – and the sloshing of water back and forth.

The event sent seismic waves rippling around the globe for several days.

The collapse of a the collapse of a 1,200-metre-high mountain peak in Greenland generated a tsunami. Picture: YouTube/Stephen Hicks

“When I first saw the seismic signal, I was completely baffled. Never before has such a long-lasting, globally travelling seismic wave, containing only a single frequency of oscillation, been recorded,” said study co-author Dr Stephen Hicks, as per The Guardian.

“This inspired me to co-lead a large team of scientists to figure out the puzzle.”

The study, published in the journal Science, found the landslide was triggered by climate change, with rising temperatures in Greenland causing a supporting glacier at the bottom of the mountain to melt.

The mountain peak collapsed into Dickson Fjord, sparking a tsunami and causing water to slosh back and forth. Picture: YouTube/Stephen Hicks

“Our study of this event amazingly highlights the intricate interconnections between climate change in the atmosphere, destabilisation of glacier ice in the cryosphere, movements of water bodies in the hydrosphere, and Earth’s solid crust in the lithosphere.”

“This is the first time that water sloshing has been recorded as vibrations through the Earth’s crust, travelling the world over and lasting several days.”

The event also marked the first time a giant landslide and tsunami occurred in east Greenland.

A general view of a Greenland fjord. Picture: iStock

Dr Kristian Svennevig, the lead author of the report said the waves generated from the landslide destroyed a 200-year-old uninhabited Inuit site.

“A large number of huts were destroyed at a research station on Ella Island, 70km (45 miles) from the landslide. The site was founded by fur hunters and explorers two centuries ago and is used by scientists and the Danish military, but was empty at the time of the tsunami,” said Scientists also noted it was “pure luck” there were no people in the area, which is visited by some Arctic cruise ships, at the time of the event.

Dr Hicks told BBC News there has been a rise in tsunami-causing landslides particularly in Greenland, noting more research is needed.

“(The event) is the perhaps first time a climate change event has impacted the crust beneath our feet all the world over.”

Originally published as “Mega-tsunami” in Greenland causes world to vibrate for nine days