Alaska - Pedersen Glacier: Landslide Triggered Tsunami

[Astronuc]

Somehow I missed this.

SEWARD, Alaska – On the Morning of August 7, 2024, at approximately 5:00 a.m. a landslide triggered tsunami washed over portions of Pedersen Lagoon near Aialik Bay (59.8842N, -149.7309W). No known injuries or fatalities were reported. A private lodge reported damage to boardwalk areas. A National Park Service campsite easement was impacted with damage reported to a food storage box.

At this point we have no degree of certainty about the potential for any future tsunami or magnitude. As such, visitors to the area should remain vigilant for any signs of an impending landslide or tsunami, including sounds of rockfall, rapid lowering of water levels, and unusual currents or wave behavior.

We recommend caution for those who visit or remain in the area in and around Pedersen Lagoon.

https://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/news/kenai-fjords-national-park-news-release.htm

https://www.usgs.gov/programs/lands...4-pedersen-lagoon-landslide-generated-tsunami

A landslide produced a tsunami in Pedersen Lagoon, southwest of Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, at approximately 04:55 AKDT / 12:55 UTC. Preliminary surveying indicates that the landslide generated a tsunami of 17 meters high (approx. 56 ft) or more in Upper Pedersen Lagoon, reducing to about one meter high (approx. 3 feet) in Lower Pedersen Lagoon. Runup heights reported here are preliminary and are subject to change with additional field validation.

When hiking in the back country near mountains, or in valleys or near slopes, pay attention to the surroundings - look for loose/falling/rolling rocks and listening for sounds of the same. I've had some close calls when hiking/scrambling on rock and boulder fields.

https://kenver.com/blogs/news/scrambling-hiking-guide

Before setting out, know the terrain and weather. Look for recent rock falls/slides; they can happen at anytime. And take plenty of water.

 

[jedishrfu]

Yikes!

Have you read about the Russian team that camped out on a sloping plain and were killed by sliding ice sheets at Dyatlov Pass in 1959?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident

aka slab avalanche:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche#Slab_avalanches

One more thing to watch for.