Listening to Tsunami Waves Induced by Glacier Calving

Abstract

Abstract Processes at the ice–ocean interface play a central role in regulating the stability of marine‐terminating glaciers and ice sheets and drive ocean freshening and mixing. Iceberg calving—a mechanical loss of ice—generates ocean waves and promotes water‐mass exchange in glacierized bays. Here we show that calving and the resulting tsunami waves produce distinct audible airborne sounds that carry information on calving activity and wave properties. Directionality analysis of acoustic array measurements enables calving localization and tracking of tsunami–shoreline interactions. We further demonstrate that even single‐microphone recordings are sufficient to localize calving events using wave dispersion analysis. The rich information content of airborne sound, together with the accessibility, ease of use, and low cost of microphones, makes airborne acoustics a powerful tool for studying glacier–ocean interactions and potentially coastal wave‐energy and erosion dynamics worldwide.