Scientists have confirmed that standing tsunami waves caused mysterious seismic signals detected in Greenland in 2023. The unusual tremors, which repeated every 90 seconds for nine days and then occurred again a month later, were linked to two massive tsunamis in a remote fjord in East Greenland. The tsunamis were triggered by major landslides connected to the warming of an unnamed glacier.
The resulting waves became trapped in the fjord, forming standing waves, or seiches, that moved back and forth, producing the strange seismic activity. Researchers from the University of Oxford used innovative analysis methods to examine satellite altimetry data from the SWOT satellite, which was launched in December 2022. The satellite’s advanced Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) allowed them to measure ocean and surface water levels with exceptional precision across a wide swath.
Greenland’s mysterious standing wave phenomenon
Using KaRIn data, the researchers created elevation maps of the Greenland Fjord at various time points following the two tsunamis. These maps showed clear, cross-channel slopes with height differences of up to two meters, indicating that water moved back and forth across the channel.
The researchers linked these observations to small movements of the Earth’s crust measured thousands of kilometers away, enabling them to reconstruct the characteristics of the wave. They also accounted for weather and tidal conditions to confirm that winds or tides could not have caused the observations. Lead author Thomas Monahan stated, “Climate change is giving rise to new, unseen extremes.
These extremes are changing the fastest in remote areas, such as the Arctic, where our ability to measure them using physical sensors is limited.”
Professor Thomas Adcock, co-author of the study, added, “This study is an example of how the next generation of satellite data can resolve phenomena that have remained mysteries in the past. We will be able to gain new insights into ocean extremes such as tsunamis, storm surges, and freak waves.”
The study emphasizes the significance of utilizing advanced satellite earth observation technologies to investigate processes in remote areas and enhance our understanding of the impact of climate change on our planet.
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