Megatsunami Breakthrough: Unveiling the Greenland Disaster

Unveiling the Greenland Megatsunami

The Greenland east coast experienced a catastrophic event on September 16 , 2023 , when a massive wave struck a fjord , reaching staggering heights of up to 200 meters . Led by Angela Carrillo Ponce from the German Research Centre for Geosciences ( GFZ ) , a team of researchers delved into the seismic signals from earthquake monitoring stations around the world . What they discovered was a phenomenon triggered by the megatsunami - a standing wave that persisted in the Dickson Fjord for over a week.

The tsunami resulted from a significant landslide in the region , which caused tremors felt as far as 5,000 kilometers away . However , what caught the attention of experts was the very long - period ( VLP ) signal that continued for an extended duration . Angela Carrillo Ponce , a doctoral student at GFZ , expressed excitement over the global observation of this unique event , emphasizing the seismic community 's fascination with such signals.

Fortunately , there were no casualties reported from the disaster , as the affected area was uninhabited except for a military base that remained vacant during the incident . The analysis of the seismic signals revealed the formation of a standing wave in the fjord post - landslide , with the wave propagating through the area , reaching heights of over 200 meters at its peak.

The persistence of the standing wave for an unusually long period intrigued researchers , as such phenomena are typically associated with glacier break - offs . The team 's findings , supported by seismic data from various international stations , highlighted the correlation between the seismic signals and the actual event 's characteristics . This led to the development of models to understand the VLP signals ' decay and dominant oscillation periods.

The implications of this study extend beyond the immediate event , shedding light on potential future risks associated with climate change . The researchers pointed out that glacier retreat and permafrost thawing could lead to increased landslides , thereby elevating the threat of megatsunamis . By leveraging data from past events , experts hope to better prepare for and mitigate similar occurrences in the future , emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in a changing climate scenario.