2025 Alaskan Fjord Tsunami Ranked Second Largest on Record
New research published in the journal Science reveals that a tsunami striking Alaska's Tracy Arm fjord in August 2025 was the second largest ever recorded. Triggered by a massive landslide of 2.1 billion cubic feet of rock, the wave reached a height of 1,578 feet (481 meters), surpassing the roof of New York's One World Trade Center. The event generated a rare standing wave, or seiche, which resonated within the narrow fjord for over a day. Although the area is popular with cruise ships, it was empty at the time, and no casualties were reported, though kayakers nearby lost equipment. Scientists from the University of Oxford and University College London utilized satellite imagery and seismic data to reconstruct the event, noting that tiny earthquakes preceded the slide. These findings suggest that real-time seismic monitoring could potentially serve as an early warning system for similar landslides in the future. Consequently, cruise lines have canceled visits to the fjord due to ongoing instability risks associated with the retreating South Sawyer Glacier.
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