In September 2023, a colossal landslide in East Greenland triggered a mega-tsunami in remote Dickson Fiord. The vibrations were felt around the world for nine consecutive days. These massive waves, with one reaching 650 feet in height, struck Dickson Fjord, creating a seismic event.
Researchers hypothesized that landslides within the fjord, triggered by glacier melting, were responsible. Data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite confirmed this theory. The findings were published in Nature Communications on June 3, 2025.
Launched in December 2022, the SWOT satellite uses the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) to map water surfaces. SWOT data revealed cross-channel slopes moving in opposite directions during the tsunamis, confirming their occurrence and linking them to landslides caused by glacier instability. This study highlights the capability of advanced satellite data in resolving previously unexplained phenomena.