Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
The Unexplained Tremors That Stunned Scientists
In September 2023, seismologists noticed something strange—Earth was shaking every 90 seconds. These subtle vibrations lasted for nine consecutive days, baffling researchers across the globe.
Even more curious, the phenomenon repeated a month later. No earthquakes, no volcanic eruptions. Just a steady, rhythmic pulse shaking the planet.
The Source Revealed: Dickson Fjord, Greenland
After extensive data analysis, scientists traced the epicenter to a remote location in East Greenland—Dickson Fjord. Here, a massive landslide had silently occurred beneath the radar.
A Colossal Collapse
Roughly 25 million cubic meters of rock and ice had tumbled into the fjord. The impact generated a towering mega-tsunami, with waves possibly reaching 650 feet high.
The Seiche Effect: Standing Waves That Shook the World
Trapped Waves, Global Ripples
The tsunami didn’t simply crash and vanish. Instead, it was trapped in the narrow fjord, forming what’s known as a seiche—a standing wave that rocks back and forth in a contained body of water.
This oscillation sent rhythmic seismic signals through the Earth’s crust, detectable by sensors worldwide.
Climate Change: The Hidden Trigger
Melting Glaciers, Shifting Earth
What caused the landslide? Scientists believe climate change was the root cause. Rapid glacial melt weakened the mountain slopes above Dickson Fjord, destabilizing the terrain and triggering the collapse.
The once-frozen support structure had thinned to the point of failure—an alarming symptom of a warming planet.
Technology to the Rescue: Satellites and AI
How the Mystery Was Solved
NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite detected subtle surface-level changes in the water. Paired with machine learning models, scientists reconstructed the chain of events in stunning detail.
This is the first direct observation of a trapped wave shaking the entire Earth.
Why It Matters: Monitoring a Changing Planet
New Tools for a New Era
This seismic anomaly is more than a scientific curiosity—it’s a wake-up call. As glaciers melt and extreme events rise, remote monitoring through satellites and AI is essential for early warning systems.
Our planet is changing, and sometimes, the signs are literally shaking beneath our feet.
What other invisible forces might be silently shaping our world?
Daily science news 2025, Best science blogs 2025, New science research 2025, Popular science articles, Latest science news 2025
