The moment a towering 3,937-foot mountain of rock and ice gave way in the Dickson fjord on Greenland’s east coast, it set off a chain reaction that shook the entire planet. In September 2023, about 33 million cubic yards of debris crashed into the fjord below, creating a wave nearly 8 feet high at first. But inside the narrow channel, this wave grew into a colossal tsunami with waves as high as 650 feet, an event so powerful it sent seismic signals rippling worldwide for over a week.

This incredible natural event hadn’t been documented in so much detail until scientists combined new satellite technology with continuous earthquake monitoring. Their findings shed light on how warming temperatures are triggering terrifying extremes in remote parts of the Arctic, with consequences that reach far beyond the icy north.

Here’s why the wheel may not have been born in fields but underground 6,000 years ago

Powerful glacier collapse sparks unprecedented megatsunami

The trigger for this megatsunami was the collapse of a glacier rapidly melting due to rising global temperatures. As the massive ice and rock slid into the fjord, it displaced water with enormous force, initially pushing up a 7.9-foot wave. But because the fjord is so narrow, those waves bounced back and forth, trapping water and amplifying the height tremendously.

Eventually, these waves surged to an astonishing 650 feet—taller than the Statue of Liberty stacked twice. Scientists identified this wave behavior as a stationary wave, where energy gets confined and doesn’t dissipate quickly, making the impact even more extreme.

The seismic tremors created by this event were detected worldwide and lasted an unbelievable nine days, showing the immense power released by the glacier’s sudden downfall.

After cutting 8,000 jobs for AI, IBM found itself hiring thousands back for the same reason

Satellite technology and seismic data reveal hidden dynamics

The breakthrough in understanding this megatsunami came from the SWOT satellite, a joint project by NASA and the French space agency CNES launched in late 2022. This cutting-edge satellite can map water heights across 90% of the Earth’s surface with a resolution down to 8 feet, thanks to its advanced radar instrument called KaRIn.

By measuring radar pulses bouncing between the satellite and Earth, researchers were able to detect subtle changes in water surface slopes within the fjord during the wave activity. Combining these satellite altimetry readings with continuous seismic records allowed scientists to reconstruct the wave’s journey in extraordinary detail—even during periods when the satellite wasn’t directly overhead.

This innovative method has opened a new window into monitoring extreme events in remote Arctic regions where physical sensors are limited. It also confirmed that the glacier collapse was directly linked to rising temperatures, making these marathon seismic signals the longest ever associated with a natural disaster of this kind.

What the Greenland event teaches us about climate risks ahead

Jules Verne was right! Scientists have discovered an ocean deep within the Earth, challenging our understanding of the universe

The megatsunami in Greenland is a sobering reminder that our planet’s warming is unleashing new and unexpected extremes. With Arctic regions heating up twice as fast as the global average, collapses of glaciers like the one in Dickson fjord will likely happen more often. These events threaten local ecosystems and pose risks to communities, wildlife, and infrastructure.

I once stood near a glacier edge during a hiking trip, feeling the eerie silence that surrounds these icy giants. It struck me how fragile these seemingly eternal landscapes are and how quickly they can transform. Witnessing nature’s unstoppable power firsthand fuels both awe and urgency to protect these vulnerable areas.

The fusion of satellite technology and seismic monitoring offers hope that we can better predict and prepare for such megatsunamis and related disasters. But beyond scientific advances, understanding these threats means asking ourselves: Are we ready to face an increasingly volatile Earth? How can we protect ourselves, our neighbors, and future generations?

Have you experienced or heard stories of natural events that changed your perspective on climate or nature’s power? Share your thoughts or stories in the comments. Pass this article along if it made you pause—conversations like these help us learn and adapt in a warming world.