Lake Tsunami Threats: How Climate Change is Raising Risks in Residential Areas

In recent years, lake tsunamis have become a growing concern as they occur not only in the ocean but also in lakes when a large volume of water changes position suddenly. These phenomena are becoming more common in places like Alaska, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, as well as areas with mountain glaciers. While most lake tsunamis currently occur in remote locations and pose little threat to people or infrastructure, geologists warn that with climate change leading to increased melting of glaciers and permafrost, the risk of lake tsunamis in residential areas may become more common.

In Alaska, Portage Lake is estimated to have a high lake tsunami risk. Lake tsunamis can be generated in various ways, such as earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, glacier ruptures or delta collapses. In 2020, a massive landslide in British Columbia caused a 100-meter high lake tsunami that devastated the surrounding area. Similarly, the 1938 Lake Michigan tsunami killed 5 people and injured 27 with a 3-meter high wave. The highest tsunami in history occurred in 1958 when a 524-meter wave hit Alaska in a fjord.

While lake tsunamis may seem less common than ocean tsunamis, they have the potential to cause severe damage and loss of life due to their ability to generate massive waves quickly and unexpectedly. With climate change and other factors increasing the risk of these events it is important for people living near lakes to take necessary precautions such as evacuation plans and monitoring systems for early warning signs