It has long been seen as intertwined with the melting of polar ice caps and the emanating sea levels. Now scientists warn that there are other chilling implications attributable to climate change. Among them are mega tsunamisa powerful wave that can reach up to 330 feet high or higher when it races across open waters for miles. It could his coastlines within minutes. Complete havoc.
Tsunamis are huge waves caused by the large-scale and rapid displacement of a very large volume of water, often as a result of landslides, volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes into ocean or large lakes. These waves can travel at over 500 mph (800 km/h) speeds and cross wide oceans: over 6,000 miles (10,000 km) from one side of the Pacific to the other. Unlike ordinary wind-driven surface waves, tsunamis are long waves that involve the entire water column from sea surface to sea floor as they propagate towards land.
Megatsunamis are significantly more destructive than regular tsunamis. They can release enormous waves that reach heights of hundreds of feet when they are caused by large-scale landslides, iceberg collapses, or underwater shelf failures. For example, in 1958 an earthquake triggered a landslide into the water in Lituya Bay, Alaska, resulting in a megatsunami. The next tsunami devastated the surrounding area as it rose to an incredible height of 1,719 feet (524 meters).
The melting of glaciers due to rising global temperatures is exposing unstable earth beneath, leading to dangerous conditions for megatsunamis. In Greenland, a September 2023 incident saw a chunk of rock the size of a football stadium break away, sending debris crashing into the ocean. This caused a 200-foot (60-meter) tall wave within the Dickson Fjord. The seismic impact was detected thousands of miles away.
Although early warning systems and technology are improving, the threat remains significant. AI is now being used to predict flood paths and detect rogue waves, offering hope for mitigating future disasters. However, with the continuing effects of climate change, megatsunamis are becoming an increasing reality, demanding global attention.
