What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to analyze the occurrence and impact of a significant landslide-tsunami event in an Alaska fjord.

May 8, 2026Science1 citations

A 481-meter-high landslide-tsunami in a cruise ship–frequented Alaska fjord

DSDan H. ShugarWatershed KBKatherine R. BarnhartUnited States Geological Survey MBMira BerdahlUniversity of Washington

Key Points

This research aims to analyze the occurrence and impact of a significant landslide-tsunami event in an Alaska fjord.
Monitoring of microseismicity leading up to the landslide.
Analysis of seismic waves generated by the landslide event.
Observation of long-period global seismic signals and seiche behavior.
The landslide generated seismic waves equivalent to a M5.4 earthquake.
A long-period global seismic signal persisted for up to 36 hours post-event.
This event marks only the second occurrence of a days-long seiche observed in such conditions.

Abstract

. The landslide was preceded by several days of microseismicity, which increased in rate and magnitude until ~1 hour before failure. The landslide produced globally observed long-period seismic waves equivalent in size to a M5.4 earthquake. A long-period (~66 s) global seismic signal, produced by a landslide-induced seiche trapped within the fjord, persisted for up to 36 hours, the second time a days-long seiche has been thus observed. With fjord regions increasingly visited by cruise ships, and climate change making similar events more likely, this unanticipated, near-miss event highlights the growing risk from landslides and tsunamis in coastal environments.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper