The height of the mega-tsunami that surged along Tracy Arm was 481 meters, almost one and a half times the height of the Eiffel Tower. On August 10, 2025, at 5:26 in the morning, thankfully no cruise ships were in the fjord located in the American state of Alaska. Despite its allure attracting thousands of tourists each summer.
No one witnessed this extraordinary event, but scientists reconstructed the causes and published their analysis in the journal Science on Wednesday, May 6.
In the two months leading up to the landslide, the glacier at the bottom of the fjord had receded by 500 meters due to unusually high temperatures. This created a pathway for the rocky wall to collapse into the water, triggering the mega-tsunami.
Researchers also found that thousands of small seismic tremors emanated from the area in the days before the collapse. This discovery could fuel an early warning system. However, such a system does not yet exist, according to the scientists. They believe that all Arctic fjords – from Alaska to Greenland and Norway – should be closely monitored. Climate change is making glaciers unstable, leading to a potential increase in mega-tsunamis in fjords.
Context: The article discusses the unprecedented mega-tsunami that occurred in Tracy Arm, Alaska, and highlights the need for improved monitoring in Arctic fjords due to the impact of climate change on glacier stability.
Fact Check: The information provided in the article is accurate and based on scientific analysis published in the journal Science.
