Podcast
Questions and Answers
What type of seismic signal was recorded during the mysterious event?
What type of seismic signal was recorded during the mysterious event?
- Random and sporadic
- Slow and constant (correct)
- Linear and rapid
- Quick and sharp
What physical event triggered the seismic activity in the Dickson Fjord?
What physical event triggered the seismic activity in the Dickson Fjord?
- A meteorite impact
- An underwater volcano eruption
- An artificial explosion
- A landslide of rock and ice (correct)
What phenomenon was created due to the tsunami traveling in the fjord?
What phenomenon was created due to the tsunami traveling in the fjord?
- Tsunami wave
- Earthquake tremor
- Standing wave (seiche) (correct)
- Rip current
How long did the seismic activity persist after the initial landslide event?
How long did the seismic activity persist after the initial landslide event?
What was the height of the tsunami triggered by the landslide?
What was the height of the tsunami triggered by the landslide?
What is suggested to be the underlying cause of the landslide, according to scientists?
What is suggested to be the underlying cause of the landslide, according to scientists?
The narrow fjord played a crucial role in which aspect of the seismic event?
The narrow fjord played a crucial role in which aspect of the seismic event?
Who conducted the high-resolution sonar survey that revealed information about the seismic events?
Who conducted the high-resolution sonar survey that revealed information about the seismic events?
Flashcards
Seismic Wave
Seismic Wave
A slow, continuous wave that travels through the Earth, often caused by large-scale events like glacial collapses.
Seiche
Seiche
A long-lasting, oscillating wave that forms in enclosed bodies of water, like fjords or lakes, due to the reflection of waves off the surrounding walls.
Tsunami
Tsunami
A dramatic rise and fall of water levels caused by the displacement of water, often triggered by events such as landslides or earthquakes.
Glacier
Glacier
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Fjord
Fjord
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Glacier Melting
Glacier Melting
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Earthquake
Earthquake
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Geology
Geology
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Study Notes
Mysterious Global Seismic Event of 2023
- Earthquake sensors worldwide detected a slow, continuous seismic wave lasting nine days in mid-September 2023, unlike typical quick earthquake readings.
- Scientists initially traced the signal to Dickson Fjord, Greenland, where a mountain and glacier collapse on September 16th, 2023, sent 33 million cubic yards of debris into the fjord.
- This triggered a 650-foot-tall tsunami - one of the highest recent records.
- The ongoing seismic signal baffled scientists until finding a high-resolution sonar survey revealed a standing wave (seiche) within the fjord.
Seiche Mechanism
- The confined space of the narrow fjord caused the massive tsunami wave to reverberate back and forth creating a seiche, concentrating energy to shake the Earth for nine days.
- This phenomenon resembles water sloshing in a bathtub but on a vastly larger scale.
- The landslide occurred inland, preventing the wave's energy from dissipating.
Climate Change Connection
- Scientists linked the glacier collapse to rising temperatures in Greenland melting the glacier.
- The glacier's thinning led to the mountain's collapse, which then triggered the cataclysmic events.
- The event demonstrates how climate change is affecting Earth's crust globally.
- The study was published in the September 2024 issue of Science.
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