Alaska Fjord Landslide Generates Second Largest Megatsunami Ever Recorded
A recent scientific analysis has revealed that a massive landslide in southeast Alaska’s remote Tracy Arm Fjord last summer generated a megatsunami almost 500 metres in height, marking it as the second tallest ever recorded.
An estimated 64 million cubic metres of rock, equivalent to 24 Great Pyramids, plunged into the fjord within a minute, creating the immense wave. Researchers indicated that only the early morning timing of the event prevented tourist cruise ships from being caught in the devastation.
Dr Bretwood Higman, an Alaskan geologist who surveyed the damage, described it as “a close call” and expressed concerns about future occurrences, stating, “I’m quite terrified that we’re not going to be so lucky in the future.”
Glacier Melt Escalates Megatsunami Risk
Alaska is particularly susceptible to megatsunamis due to its steep mountains, narrow fjords, and frequent seismic activity. New research published in Science suggests that glacier retreat, driven by climate change, is significantly increasing the likelihood of such collapses.
Dr Stephen Hicks of University College London explained that glaciers previously provided structural support to rock formations. As the ice recedes, it exposes cliff faces, allowing rock material to collapse into fjords. Dr Higman stated his confidence that these events are becoming “maybe in the order of 10 times as frequent as they were just a few decades ago.”
Scientists are advocating for enhanced hazard monitoring in vulnerable Alaskan areas. In response to safety concerns, some cruise operators have announced they will cease sending ships into Tracy Arm Fjord.
