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

Abstract

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.