US EditionThose loud booms aren't earthquakes. What to know about 'frost quakes' in Nashville
- Reported from San Jose, researchers described frost quakes as vibrations and loud popping sounds caused by sudden cracking of frozen soil or groundwater.
- When deep snow lies on the ground, it can insulate the soil and prevent frost quakes, which are more common in the Midwest and often mistaken for earthquakes, FOX Weather and AccuWeather reported.
- A 2023 Finland study installed high-resolution seismic tools and researchers classified two seismic types, frost quakes and frost tremors, linked to rapid temperature drops and ice fracturing.
- Residents reported loud booms to the National Weather Service, which said the noises can be startling but are mostly harmless, while single-digit temperatures pose larger risks, Evan Webb said.
- Experts caution there isn’t enough research on frost quakes to determine their severity, and seismographs occasionally detect events often mistaken for earthquakes in the Midwest.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Frost quakes startle Lincoln County residents
LINCOLN COUNTY, Ky. — Residents across Lincoln County reported being startled this week by loud booming sounds and brief shaking following Winter Storm Fern, a cold-weather phenomenon known as frost quakes, or cryoseisms. The unusual noises were reported after snowfall and rain were followed by a rapid drop in temperatures. Residents from Stanford to parts of Casey County said they heard sharp cracks and booms, with some comparing the sounds to …
San Diego Union Tribune
Frost quakes cause loud booms, light shaking when bitterly cold temperatures persist
By ISABELLA O’MALLEY Meteorologists say that water rapidly freezing in the soil amid bitterly cold temperatures can make a startling noise and even cause small vibrations. Related Articles Paralyzing winter storms put a big chill on US economy, but how much? California sues the Trump administration over plans to restart oil pipelines along the coast FACT FOCUS: As cold hits, Trump asks, where’s glo…
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