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Questions and Answers
What caused the unusual seismic activity observed for nine days?
What caused the unusual seismic activity observed for nine days?
What feature of the fjord contributed to the prolonged shaking of the Earth?
What feature of the fjord contributed to the prolonged shaking of the Earth?
How much material was dumped into the Dickson Fjord during the landslide?
How much material was dumped into the Dickson Fjord during the landslide?
In what publication were the findings of the scientists published?
In what publication were the findings of the scientists published?
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What was the height of the tsunami triggered by the landslide?
What was the height of the tsunami triggered by the landslide?
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What does the phenomenon causing the nine-day shake resemble?
What does the phenomenon causing the nine-day shake resemble?
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What environmental change was linked to the initiation of the landslide?
What environmental change was linked to the initiation of the landslide?
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What was the primary source of the seismic signal tracked down by researchers?
What was the primary source of the seismic signal tracked down by researchers?
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Study Notes
Mysterious Global Seismic Event
- Worldwide earthquake sensors recorded a unique slow, continuous seismic wave lasting nine days in mid-September 2023.
- Scientists were baffled by this unprecedented event, lacking comparable data.
Origin of the Seismic Event
- An international team of 68 scientists, led by Dr. Kristian Svennevig, investigated the phenomenon.
- The source was traced to a landslide and tsunami in Dickson Fjord, East Greenland.
- On September 16, 2023, a significant portion of a mountain and glacier collapsed.
- The debris was approximately 33 million cubic yards, enough to fill 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
- This caused a 650-foot-tall (198 m) tsunami, one of the highest recorded.
Explanation of the Prolonged Seismic Activity
- The initial seismic readings were from the same area as the tsunami, implying a connection.
- A high-resolution sonar survey by the Danish Navy revealed a seiche generated by the tsunami.
- Within the narrow fjord, the mega-tsunami wave travelled back and forth, producing a standing wave (seiche).
- The intense energy concentrated in the fjord's confined space caused the Earth to vibrate for nine days.
- The prolonged shaking is analogous to water sloshing in a bathtub, but on a significantly larger scale.
Role of Climate Change
- The landslide was linked to rising temperatures in Greenland.
- Melting glaciers weakened the support structure of the mountain, causing its collapse.
- This event demonstrates climate change's impact on geological formations.
- The long lasting effect of the shaking suggests a new level of impact from climate change on the Earth's crust.
Scientific Publication
- The findings were published in the September 2024 issue of the journal Science.
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Description
Explore the details of the remarkable slow seismic waves observed in September 2023. Discover how an international team traced the origin to a landslide and tsunami in East Greenland, leading to unprecedented seismic activity over nine days. Join us in understanding this mysterious geological event.
