| Unusual Seismic Waves: Detected globally from the Arctic to Antarctica, these waves had a single frequency, unlike typical earthquake waves. Seismologists initially classified it as a “USO” (unidentified seismic object) due to its mysterious nature and prolonged duration. |
- Seismic stations worldwide recorded an unusual signal lasting nine days in September 2023. These waves were different from typical earthquakes, leading to a global investigation.
- A global team of over 68 researchers from 40 universities discovered the cause to be a massive landslide at Dickson Fjord, Greenland.
- The collapse of the Hvide Støvhorn peak triggered a rock-ice avalanche, leading to a 200-meter-high mega-tsunami.
- The rock-ice avalanche dislodged 25 million cubic meters of material into the fjord.
- The waves reached up to 110 meters as they rebounded between the fjord’s banks.
- The seismic energy from the landslide caused the Earth’s surface to vibrate like a gong, with the reverberations being recorded worldwide for nine days.
| Fjords: Fjords are deep, U-shaped valleys formed by glaciers and later flooded by seawater. Seiche: The back-and-forth wave motion in the fjord, called a seiche, contributed to the prolonged tremors. |
Dig Deeper: Go through Coastal water erosional and depositional landforms.
