Stunning Satellite Images Uncover 9 Days of Mega-Tsunamis That Rocked the World

Scientists have cracked the mystery behind two strange seismic events that caused worldwide tremors for nine days. In September 2023, seismometers picked up unusual activity, with small earthquakes occurring every 90 seconds. This odd behavior puzzled experts since natural tectonic movements couldn’t account for it. Just a month later, it happened again.

After a year of investigation, two studies published in 2024 proposed that the tremors were due to massive landslides that created “mega-tsunamis” in Dickson Fjord, East Greenland. These waves led to sloshing in the fjord, which caused the small crustal movements detected by seismometers. While these theories were intriguing, there was skepticism about their accuracy, as acknowledged by Thomas Monahan, a research fellow at the University of Oxford.

To determine the truth, Monahan and his team conducted a study published in Nature Communications. They used satellite data from NASA’s Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, launched in December 2022, to observe the seiches directly. This satellite can measure the height of water across most of Earth’s surface and provides high-resolution data that conventional methods couldn’t capture.

Monahan explained that SWOT’s technology allows for very precise measurements, making it ideal for studying complex terrains like fjords. The data revealed significant changes in sea surface height during the seismic events, which helped the researchers estimate the wave slopes accurately. “We found a notable anomaly right when we expected the seismic activity,” he said.

However, linking these seiches to global tremors required more evidence. By correlating satellite observations with seismic data from stations miles away, the team confirmed that the waves were indeed responsible for the tremors. They ruled out other potential causes, like weather conditions or tides, solidifying the connection.

The mega-tsunamis were triggered by the collapse of a warming glacier. As Monahan noted, this phenomenon, previously documented on Greenland’s west coast, is now emerging on the east. “This is worrying,” he said, pointing to the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Monahan emphasized the global implications of these findings: “Climate change is a worldwide issue. The Arctic is undergoing rapid changes, and while we may not see them directly, they will affect us all.” The waves that shook the earth serve as a reminder of the far-reaching effects of rising temperatures. In fact, a recent study found that glaciers in East Greenland are melting at an unprecedented rate, contributing to rising sea levels—all of which pose risks to coastal communities worldwide.

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Climate change,glaciers,seismology