### The Skyscraper-Sized Tsunami That Resonated Across the Entire Globe—And No One Anticipated It
In September 2023, seismic researchers worldwide identified a strange and perplexing signal on monitoring stations, spanning from the Arctic to the Antarctic. It was not the usual quake rumble, but rather a steady, unchanging hum that lasted an incredible nine days. This enigmatic signal, initially designated as a “USO” (Unidentified Seismic Object), confounded specialists.
Following a thorough examination, the origin of the signal was traced to a colossal landslide in Greenland’s secluded Dickson Fjord. An astonishing volume of rock and ice—sufficient to fill 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools—had fallen into the fjord, resulting in a 200-meter-high mega-tsunami and a rare occurrence known as a seiche, a standing wave that oscillated back and forth in the fjord for nine days.
This incident, now reported in the journal *Science*, was a joint effort involving 66 scientists from 40 institutions across 15 nations. The inquiry required synthesizing seismic data, satellite images, water level monitors, and simulations depicting the tsunami’s progression. The results unveiled a disastrous sequence of events, intensified by years of global warming that had weakened the glacier, ultimately leading to the mountain’s collapse above it.
### Uncharted Waters: Climate Change and Seismic Events
Beyond the scientific wonder of this revelation, the occurrence highlights a more troubling truth: climate change is transforming our planet in ways we are just starting to comprehend. The notion that a seiche could persist for nine days would have seemed ludicrous just a year prior. Similarly, the idea that warming could destabilize slopes in the Arctic, resulting in colossal landslides and tsunamis, would have been regarded as implausible a century ago. However, these previously inconceivable occurrences are becoming our new normal.
Historically, conversations about climate change have centered on changes to the atmosphere and oceans—shifting weather patterns, rising sea levels, and melting ice caps. However, the Dickson Fjord event compels us to look downward, to the very crust beneath us. For perhaps the first time, climate change has instigated a seismic event with worldwide ramifications. The landslide in Greenland transmitted vibrations through the Earth, shaking the planet and producing seismic waves that enveloped the globe within an hour.
### The Future: More Landslide-Tsunamis Looming
This event in Greenland is not a standalone occurrence. As glaciers continue to thin and permafrost on steep inclines warms, we can anticipate even more landslide-tsunamis, possibly on an even grander scale. Unstable slopes in west Greenland and Alaska have already been recognized as potential disaster areas. For instance, scientists worry that a sudden collapse of slopes surrounding Barry Arm fjord in Alaska could produce a tsunami that would ravage adjacent communities.
As we face these extreme and unforeseen events, it is becoming apparent that our existing scientific methodologies may not be fully equipped to address them. The 2023 Greenland event necessitated an innovative approach to analyze and comprehend, as no standard processes existed for such an unprecedented phenomenon. Additionally, our current understanding of natural disasters has been shaped by a now near-extinct, formerly stable climate.
### A Call to Action
As we continue to modify our planet’s climate, we must be ready for unexpected phenomena that challenge our present understanding and require new perspectives. The ground beneath us is both literally and metaphorically shaking, and while the scientific community must adapt, it is up to decision-makers to act on this newfound knowledge.
The 2023 Greenland landslide-megatsunami serves as a stark reminder that climate change is not merely an atmospheric or oceanic challenge—it is reshaping the very ground beneath our feet. As we delve deeper into this new epoch, we must be prepared to confront the consequences of our changing planet, both visible and hidden.
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*This article is republished from [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com) under a Creative Commons license. Read the [original article](https://theconversation.com/the-skyscraper-sized-tsunami-that-vibrated-through-the-entire-planet-and-no-one-saw-238738).*
