Skyquake - Earthquakes from the Sky

by mār Enlil

 

Have you heard of skyquakes? They are very loud booms coming from the sky, often compared to the sound of a trumpet, a loud bang, or a cannon shot. Sometimes, the sound causes buildings to shake. Cases have been reported all over the world: in the North Sea, the Ganges, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Finland, Vanuatu, Australia, Italy, Ireland, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico, Malaysia (particularly Ipoh), and Indonesia (particularly Jakarta and Java). And yes, the phenomenon is real and has been documented for over two centuries. The first documented case dates back to 1811 with the Seneca Guns in New York State.

 

Scientifically, there are several theories, although none of them can explain all the cases.

 

Supersonic booms (military aircraft)?

 

When an aircraft exceeds Mach 1, it generates a shock wave that is audible on the ground. These booms can travel tens of kilometers, depending on atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, military zones are often located near areas where skyquakes are reported.

 

But skyquakes were documented even before the invention of aviation, as early as 1811. Many events occur without any detected air traffic. And some occur in regions without military flight corridors.

 

Fireballs?

 

A fireball is a type of meteor that enters Earth’s atmosphere and emits intense light.   Fireballs produce a shock wave when they explode in the atmosphere and generate very similar sounds (explosions, rumbling). They can occur on clear nights, like many skyquakes.

 

However, fireballs are too rare to explain recurring incidents in the same location, such as at Seneca Lake in New York State. Moreover, no luminous phenomenon is observed in the majority of cases.

 

Ocean waves?

 

Strong waves generate low-frequency waves that propagate through the Earth’s crust or the air.

 

This hypothesis is supported by geologists, as skyquakes are often reported near coastlines. And ocean waves can produce a low, rumbling sound.

 

However, it does not explain cases far from the ocean, such as in mountainous areas. And the sounds described are often too sharp and explosive to be mere rumblings.

 

The Earth's crust?

 

The Earth's crust can produce internal cracks or explosions. These micro-fractures can generate sudden, sharp sounds.

 

But seismometers detect no activity during most skyquakes. And the sounds are sometimes too powerful to be caused by mere micro-fractures.

 

Silent volcanic activity (without an eruption)?

 

The movement of magma can produce acoustic waves. Some volcanoes emit low-frequency sounds without erupting.

 

But many skyquakes occur far from any volcanic zones. And no volcanic infrasonic signals correlate with the cases studied.

 

Rare atmospheric phenomena (pressure waves, temperature inversions)?

 

Atmospheric pressure waves can produce natural booms. Some cases occur on clear days, conditions favorable for temperature inversions. Atmospheric waves can travel very far.

 

However, atmospheric models show no anomalies during the events studied. The sounds described are often too distinct to be caused by diffuse atmospheric phenomena.

 

Unidentified human-caused explosions (mines, quarries, military firing)?

 

These may be unreported industrial or military explosions; the sounds sometimes resemble artillery fire. Furthermore, some areas are located near test sites.

 

But in most cases, the authorities report no explosions. Furthermore, skyquakes also occur in areas with no human activity.

 

Conclusion

 

The phenomenon likely has multiple causes, but it is not supernatural: it is simply an area where science still lacks data. The cases are too varied and the affected regions are too diverse (coasts, mountains, plains) to be attributed to a single cause.

 

However, this multicausal hypothesis is difficult to test: it explains everything… and therefore nothing.

 

Currently, skyquakes remain an unexplained mystery.