How Melting Ice Triggers Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Can melting ice really trigger earthquakes and tsunamis in places with no active plate boundaries? This article explores the surprising geology behind ice retreat, fault reactivation, and tsunami generation in tectonically stable regions like Greenland. Drawing on peer-reviewed research, it explains how rapid ice loss during warming periods alters crustal stress through glacial isostatic rebound, allowing ancient faults to slip and, in rare cases, displace the seafloor. We unpack the physical mechanism, examine evidence from the early Holocene, and discuss why a possible trans-Atlantic tsunami linked to Greenland ice retreat matters for understanding Earth system interactions today.
