Unraveling the Mystery of the Unidentified Seismic Object: How Climate Change Triggered a Tsunami in Greenland

In September 2023, a global seismic signal resonated for more than a week, puzzling researchers around the world. After extensive investigation involving 68 experts from 15 countries, the cause of this unusual signal was identified as a massive avalanche triggered by glacial melting in the Dickson fjord in eastern Greenland.

The seismic signal, dubbed the “Unidentified Seismic Object” (USO), was unlike an earthquake. Instead of a quick burst of vibrations, it resembled striking a single piano key for a very pure tone lasting for nine days. The avalanche occurred when a mountaintop collapsed, sending over 25 million cubic meters of rock and ice into the water, equivalent to filling 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The resulting tsunami reached a towering height of 200 meters (656 feet) and caused a phenomenon called a seiche, where the water sloshed back and forth in the fjord. This oscillation pattern was detected on sensors from the Arctic to Antarctica, explaining the prolonged seismic signal.

The researchers used declassified army bathymetrical mapping and tsunami models to confirm their findings. The seiche was 7 meters tall with a frequency and amplitude decay similar to the seismic signal, resonating for nine days. This event serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change, with the researchers warning of potential future cascading events in the Arctic due to global warming.

While the mystery of the global seismic signal has been solved, lead author Kristian Svennevig emphasizes the need for further research to understand how the planet is adapting to climate change. He highlights the importance of studying new natural phenomena arising from climate change and encourages the next generation of geoscientists to unravel these unresolved mysteries.