New Delhi: A landslide in Greenland, caused by melting glaciers due to climate change, triggered a rare earthquake-like event that sent seismic vibrations reverberating across the planet for nine days, according to a groundbreaking study.
The event, which occurred in September 2023, saw a 1.2-kilometer-high mountain peak in an East Greenland fjord collapse, resulting in a massive tsunami about 200 meters tall. The waves rocked the narrow fjord for nine days, creating seismic waves that baffled scientists around the world.
Researchers have now traced the root cause of the landslide to glacier melting, which had weakened the base of the mountain. The thinning glacier, which once provided support to the rock face, could no longer hold up the massive structure, ultimately leading to its collapse a direct consequence of climate change, according to the study.
Seismic Shocks Reverberate Worldwide
While the region was uninhabited, and no casualties were reported, the earthquake-like tremors caused extensive damage at an abandoned research station on Ella Island in eastern Greenland. The international research team, including experts from University College London, UK, estimates the damage to be nearly USD 200,000.
Lead researchers noted that the continuous sloshing of water from the tsunami within the fjord sent seismic shocks through Earth’s crust, creating a globally detectable signal that had never been observed before. Stephen Hicks, a co-author from University College London, stated, “When I first saw the seismic signal, I was completely baffled. Never before has such a long-lasting, globally traveling seismic wave been recorded.”
Recreating the Landslide
To understand the phenomenon, the team used advanced computer simulations, mathematical models, seismic data from global monitoring stations, and satellite imagery. With the help of 68 scientists from 41 research institutions, they successfully recreated the landslide’s impact and the dynamics of the narrow fjord.
The model closely matched the real-world observations, showing that the giant tsunami moved back and forth in the fjord approximately every 90 seconds. This back-and-forth movement, or sloshing, was responsible for the sustained seismic activity that circled the globe for nine days.
Climate Change’s Role
The research highlights how climate change is triggering a dangerous feedback loop between Earth’s cryosphere (ice regions), hydrosphere (water bodies), and lithosphere (land masses). As the planet warms and polar regions experience accelerated ice melt, more such events are likely in the future.
Alice Gabriel, a co-author from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California – San Diego, emphasized the broader implications of the study. “Climate change is shifting what is typical on Earth, and it can set unusual events into motion,” she said.
The study, published in the journal Science, raises new concerns about the increasing risks posed by melting glaciers, which could lead to more large-scale, destructive landslides in Earth’s polar regions.
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