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Tsunami-generating rock fall and landslide on the south coast of Nuussuaq, central West Greenland

2002; Geoloical Survey of Denmark and Greenland; Volume: 191; Linguagem: Inglês

10.34194/ggub.v191.5131

2597-2928

Stig A. Schack Pedersen, Lotte Melchior Larsen, Trine Dahl‐Jensen, H.F Jepsen, Gunver Krarup Pedersen, Tøve Nielsen, Asger Ken Pedersen, Frants von Platen-Hallermund, Willy L. Weng,

Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

During the afternoon of 21 November 2000 the village of Saqqaq in central West Greenland was hit by a series of giant waves. Ten small boats were destroyed, but luckily neither humans nor dogs were killed. The following day a police inspection by helicopter revealed that the giant waves were caused by a major landslide at Paatuut, c. 40 km north-west of Saqqaq on the south coast of Nuussuaq (Figs 1, 2). The landslide deposits were dark grey-brown in colour, in marked contrast to the snow-covered slopes, and protruded as a lobe into the Vaigat strait. Along the adjacent coastlines the snow had been washed off up to altitudes about 50 m a.s.l. and severe damage had been caused at the abandoned coal-mining town Qullissat on the opposite side of Vaigat.