How climate change triggers giant megatsunami waves in Alaska

The extreme climate change and melting of glaciers have yet again indicated a big disaster, as a massive landslide in a remote Alaskan Fjord recently triggered a "megatsunami" that stands as the second-tallest wave ever recorded. While the sudden tsunami occurred with little initial fanfare, new scientific data reveals a staggering display of geological power—and a sobering warning about the consequences of a warming climate.


A glacier falls into the Sea
Something happened at Tracy Arm Fjord in southeast Alaska. A huge piece of a mountain fell into the water, and it was as big as 24 Great Pyramids all falling in at the time, which created the massive waves that were almost 500 meters high ever.


A Narrow Escape for Tourists
The people who were visiting the area were very lucky. The mountain fell into the water early in the morning. The big boats that take tourists were not there. One of the scientists who looked at what happened said it was a close call. Some people were very close to where the wave hit.


Understanding the Megatsunami
These big waves are different from the ones that happen in the ocean. They happen when a lot of rock and dirt fall into a body of water. They do not last long as the other kind of waves but they can be much more destructive.


The Role of Melting Glaciers
As per a report published in a digital daily, scientists think that the earth getting warmer is creating climate changes such as the big waves, avalanches, and tsunamis happening often. They think that the ice that is melting is making the cliffs unstable. One scientist, Dr. Stephen Hicks of University College London, said that when the ice melts the cliffs can collapse suddenly.


Signs of Destruction
When the scientists went to look at what happened, they could see that the wave was very powerful. It had taken all the dirt and plants off the mountains, leaving bare rock. It had even pulled up trees and thrown them into the water. One scientist thinks that these kinds of events might be happening ten times more often than they used to.


A Call for Better Monitoring
More and more of these landslides are happening so people are saying that we need to watch these areas closely. It is especially important because more people are going to these places to see what is happening to the earth. Some companies that take people on boat tours are already canceling trips to Tracy Arm Fjord because they are worried about keeping people safe.