The Norwegian Catastrophe

The Swarm

The hydrate-worm crisis develops from a scientific anomaly into a slope failure, tsunami, and humanitarian disaster.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Hydrate-Bound Worms Hydrate-Bound Worms from "The Swarm". A New Organism The seabed is transformed Millions of unusual worms occupy methane hydrate deposits where earlier surveys found no such colonies.

Hydrate-Bound Worms from "The Swarm". A New Organism The seabed is transformed Millions of unusual worms occupy methane hydrate deposits where earlier surveys found no such colonies.

A New Organism The seabed is transformed Millions of unusual worms occupy methane hydrate deposits where earlier surveys found no such colonies. Their presence raises questions about the stability of the slope.

Bacteria Move Into the Ice Bacteria Move Into the Ice from "The Swarm". A Hidden Mechanism Symbiosis becomes a hazard Scientists find that worms transport bacteria into hydrates, where the microbes can dissolve the ice from within.

Bacteria Move Into the Ice from "The Swarm". A Hidden Mechanism Symbiosis becomes a hazard Scientists find that worms transport bacteria into hydrates, where the microbes can dissolve the ice from within.

A Hidden Mechanism Symbiosis becomes a hazard Scientists find that worms transport bacteria into hydrates, where the microbes can dissolve the ice from within. A small organism becomes part of a much larger destabilizing process.

Methane Plumes Rise Methane Plumes Rise from "The Swarm". The Warning Becomes Measurable A change in the water column Research vessels record unusually high methane levels along the slope.

Methane Plumes Rise from "The Swarm". The Warning Becomes Measurable A change in the water column Research vessels record unusually high methane levels along the slope.

The Warning Becomes Measurable A change in the water column Research vessels record unusually high methane levels along the slope. The readings confirm that the danger extends beyond a single worm colony.

The Storegga Slide Begins The Storegga Slide Begins from "The Swarm". A Slope in Motion The seabed collapses Hydrate layers crack and release methane, triggering an enormous landslide across the Norwegian margin.

The Storegga Slide Begins from "The Swarm". A Slope in Motion The seabed collapses Hydrate layers crack and release methane, triggering an enormous landslide across the Norwegian margin.

A Slope in Motion The seabed collapses Hydrate layers crack and release methane, triggering an enormous landslide across the Norwegian margin. The shifting seabed overturns industrial structures and generates a tsunami.

Northern Europe Is Flooded Northern Europe Is Flooded from "The Swarm". The Coast Is Overwhelmed Wave and retreat Tsunami waves destroy coastal settlements and overwhelm the North Sea industry, followed by a destructive retreat.

Northern Europe Is Flooded from "The Swarm". The Coast Is Overwhelmed Wave and retreat Tsunami waves destroy coastal settlements and overwhelm the North Sea industry, followed by a destructive retreat.

The Coast Is Overwhelmed Wave and retreat Tsunami waves destroy coastal settlements and overwhelm the North Sea industry, followed by a destructive retreat. The event leaves millions dead, displaced, or cut off from aid.

March, on the Norwegian continental slope

April, in the GEOMAR simulation

late April, during the joint survey

late April, at the failed prototype site

the hours after the slide