Skip to main content

What are those booms I sometimes hear before or during an earthquake?

"Booms" have been reported for a long time, and they tend to occur more in the Northeastern US and along the East Coast. Of course, most "booms" that people hear or experience are actually some type of cultural noise, such as some type of explosion, a large vehicle going by, or sometimes a sonic boom, but there have been many reports of "booms" that cannot be explained by man-made sources. No one knows for sure, but scientists speculate that these "booms" are probably small shallow earthquakes that are too small to be recorded, but large enough to be felt by people nearby.

Large sonic booms can be recorded on the seismic instruments and have lead to some interesting observations.

Learn more: 

Related Content

link
Potential earthquake map shaking

At what magnitude does damage begin to occur in an earthquake?

It isn't that simple. There is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on, etc. That being said, damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5.Learn more: Earthquake Magnitude, Energy Release, and Shaking Intensity

link

At what magnitude does damage begin to occur in an earthquake?

It isn't that simple. There is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on, etc. That being said, damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5.Learn more: Earthquake Magnitude, Energy Release, and Shaking Intensity

Learn More
link
2014 South Napa Earthquake in California

What does an earthquake feel like?

The way an earthquake feels depends on where you are, where the earthquake is, and how big the earthquake is:A large earthquake nearby will feel like a sudden large jolt followed quickly by more strong shaking that may last a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes if it's a rare great event. The shaking will feel violent and it will be difficult to stand up. The contents of your house will be a...

link

What does an earthquake feel like?

The way an earthquake feels depends on where you are, where the earthquake is, and how big the earthquake is:A large earthquake nearby will feel like a sudden large jolt followed quickly by more strong shaking that may last a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes if it's a rare great event. The shaking will feel violent and it will be difficult to stand up. The contents of your house will be a...

Learn More
link
Image: Damage from 2008 Great Sichuan Earthquake in China

Why do earthquakes in other countries seem to cause more damage and casualties than earthquakes in the U.S.?

There is more damage and more deaths from earthquakes in other parts of the world primarily because of buildings which are poorly designed and constructed for earthquake regions, and population density.

link

Why do earthquakes in other countries seem to cause more damage and casualties than earthquakes in the U.S.?

There is more damage and more deaths from earthquakes in other parts of the world primarily because of buildings which are poorly designed and constructed for earthquake regions, and population density.

Learn More
link
Image: Damage in Residential Area

How can an earthquake affect groundwater or changes in wells?

Groundwater levels in wells may oscillate up and down while seismic waves pass, and in some cases, the water level may remain higher or lower for a period of time after the seismic wavetrain has ended.Learn more:Groundwater Effects from EarthquakesGroundwater Response to Earthquakes

link

How can an earthquake affect groundwater or changes in wells?

Groundwater levels in wells may oscillate up and down while seismic waves pass, and in some cases, the water level may remain higher or lower for a period of time after the seismic wavetrain has ended.Learn more:Groundwater Effects from EarthquakesGroundwater Response to Earthquakes

Learn More
link
Devastation of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Where can I find photographs of earthquake damage?

Two sources for photographs that show earthquake damage are:Earthquake Hazards Program - Earthquake Photo CollectionsU.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (see 'earthquakes' in the categories left column)

link

Where can I find photographs of earthquake damage?

Two sources for photographs that show earthquake damage are:Earthquake Hazards Program - Earthquake Photo CollectionsU.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (see 'earthquakes' in the categories left column)

Learn More
link
photo of sand blow on top and illustration of layers and fissure on bottom

What is liquefaction?

Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking. Liquefaction occurring beneath buildings and other structures can cause major damage during earthquakes. For example, the 1964 Niigata earthquake caused widespread liquefaction in Niigata, Japan which destroyed many buildings. Also, during the...

link

What is liquefaction?

Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking. Liquefaction occurring beneath buildings and other structures can cause major damage during earthquakes. For example, the 1964 Niigata earthquake caused widespread liquefaction in Niigata, Japan which destroyed many buildings. Also, during the...

Learn More
link
Image: Natural Entrance at Carlsbad Caverns

Can you feel an earthquake if you're in a cave? Is it safer to be in a cave during an earthquake?

There is nothing different about a cave that would make it immune to the shaking from an earthquake. Just as there are safer and less safe places to be on the surface of the earth during an earthquake, there are also various characteristics inside caves that make some cave locations safer or less safe than others. First of all, whether or not you feel an earthquake in a cave depends chiefly upon...

link

Can you feel an earthquake if you're in a cave? Is it safer to be in a cave during an earthquake?

There is nothing different about a cave that would make it immune to the shaking from an earthquake. Just as there are safer and less safe places to be on the surface of the earth during an earthquake, there are also various characteristics inside caves that make some cave locations safer or less safe than others. First of all, whether or not you feel an earthquake in a cave depends chiefly upon...

Learn More
link
Aurora

What are earthquake lights?

Phenomena such as sheet lightning, balls of light, streamers, and steady glows, reported in association with earthquakes are called earthquake lights (EQL). Geophysicists differ on the extent to which they think that individual reports of unusual lighting near the time and epicenter of an earthquake actually represent EQL: some doubt that any of the reports constitute solid evidence for EQL...

link

What are earthquake lights?

Phenomena such as sheet lightning, balls of light, streamers, and steady glows, reported in association with earthquakes are called earthquake lights (EQL). Geophysicists differ on the extent to which they think that individual reports of unusual lighting near the time and epicenter of an earthquake actually represent EQL: some doubt that any of the reports constitute solid evidence for EQL...

Learn More
link
geocoded Did You Feel It? responses for a sonic boom off the coast of New Jersey on January 28, 2016

How does the USGS tell the difference between an earthquake and a sonic boom?

Steps to identification of a sonic boom:The USGS sees either nothing on our seismic records or a fairly short high-frequency signal that doesn't look like an earthquake.On rare occasions, we see the event on multiple stations, and the time difference between stations matches the speed of sound in air, which is slower than the speed of seismic waves in rock.Felt reports come from a wide area, which...

link

How does the USGS tell the difference between an earthquake and a sonic boom?

Steps to identification of a sonic boom:The USGS sees either nothing on our seismic records or a fairly short high-frequency signal that doesn't look like an earthquake.On rare occasions, we see the event on multiple stations, and the time difference between stations matches the speed of sound in air, which is slower than the speed of seismic waves in rock.Felt reports come from a wide area, which...

Learn More
Damage from South Napa Earthquake
link
Image: USGS Scientist Installing Seismograph
link
Image: Seismographs at the U.S. Geological Survey
link
Airplane at McChord AFB
link
geocoded Did You Feel It? responses for a sonic boom off the coast of New Jersey on January 28, 2016
link

The severity of an earthquake

The severity of an earthquake can be expressed in terms of both intensity and magnitude. However, the two terms are quite different, and they are often confused. Intensity is based on the observed effects of ground shaking on people, buildings, and natural features. It varies from place to place within the disturbed region depending on the location of the observer with respect to the earthquake ep

ANSS-Advanced National Seismic System

Estimating trajectories of supersonic objects using arrival times of sonic booms

link

South Napa Earthquake – One Year Later

One year ago, the largest earthquake in over 25 years hit the San Francisco Bay Area, causing significant damage in California’s famous Napa Valley...

Read Article
link

"Living in Earthquake Country: Los Angeles and the Big One" - Dr. Lucy Jones presentation at LA Natural History Museum

"Living in Earthquake Country: Los Angeles and the Big One" - Dr. Lucy Jones presentation at LA Natural History Museum
Read Article

Related Content

  • FAQ
    link
    Potential earthquake map shaking

    At what magnitude does damage begin to occur in an earthquake?

    It isn't that simple. There is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on, etc. That being said, damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5.Learn more: Earthquake Magnitude, Energy Release, and Shaking Intensity

    link

    At what magnitude does damage begin to occur in an earthquake?

    It isn't that simple. There is not one magnitude above which damage will occur. It depends on other variables, such as the distance from the earthquake, what type of soil you are on, etc. That being said, damage does not usually occur until the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5.Learn more: Earthquake Magnitude, Energy Release, and Shaking Intensity

    Learn More
    link
    2014 South Napa Earthquake in California

    What does an earthquake feel like?

    The way an earthquake feels depends on where you are, where the earthquake is, and how big the earthquake is:A large earthquake nearby will feel like a sudden large jolt followed quickly by more strong shaking that may last a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes if it's a rare great event. The shaking will feel violent and it will be difficult to stand up. The contents of your house will be a...

    link

    What does an earthquake feel like?

    The way an earthquake feels depends on where you are, where the earthquake is, and how big the earthquake is:A large earthquake nearby will feel like a sudden large jolt followed quickly by more strong shaking that may last a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes if it's a rare great event. The shaking will feel violent and it will be difficult to stand up. The contents of your house will be a...

    Learn More
    link
    Image: Damage from 2008 Great Sichuan Earthquake in China

    Why do earthquakes in other countries seem to cause more damage and casualties than earthquakes in the U.S.?

    There is more damage and more deaths from earthquakes in other parts of the world primarily because of buildings which are poorly designed and constructed for earthquake regions, and population density.

    link

    Why do earthquakes in other countries seem to cause more damage and casualties than earthquakes in the U.S.?

    There is more damage and more deaths from earthquakes in other parts of the world primarily because of buildings which are poorly designed and constructed for earthquake regions, and population density.

    Learn More
    link
    Image: Damage in Residential Area

    How can an earthquake affect groundwater or changes in wells?

    Groundwater levels in wells may oscillate up and down while seismic waves pass, and in some cases, the water level may remain higher or lower for a period of time after the seismic wavetrain has ended.Learn more:Groundwater Effects from EarthquakesGroundwater Response to Earthquakes

    link

    How can an earthquake affect groundwater or changes in wells?

    Groundwater levels in wells may oscillate up and down while seismic waves pass, and in some cases, the water level may remain higher or lower for a period of time after the seismic wavetrain has ended.Learn more:Groundwater Effects from EarthquakesGroundwater Response to Earthquakes

    Learn More
    link
    Devastation of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

    Where can I find photographs of earthquake damage?

    Two sources for photographs that show earthquake damage are:Earthquake Hazards Program - Earthquake Photo CollectionsU.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (see 'earthquakes' in the categories left column)

    link

    Where can I find photographs of earthquake damage?

    Two sources for photographs that show earthquake damage are:Earthquake Hazards Program - Earthquake Photo CollectionsU.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (see 'earthquakes' in the categories left column)

    Learn More
    link
    photo of sand blow on top and illustration of layers and fissure on bottom

    What is liquefaction?

    Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking. Liquefaction occurring beneath buildings and other structures can cause major damage during earthquakes. For example, the 1964 Niigata earthquake caused widespread liquefaction in Niigata, Japan which destroyed many buildings. Also, during the...

    link

    What is liquefaction?

    Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking. Liquefaction occurring beneath buildings and other structures can cause major damage during earthquakes. For example, the 1964 Niigata earthquake caused widespread liquefaction in Niigata, Japan which destroyed many buildings. Also, during the...

    Learn More
    link
    Image: Natural Entrance at Carlsbad Caverns

    Can you feel an earthquake if you're in a cave? Is it safer to be in a cave during an earthquake?

    There is nothing different about a cave that would make it immune to the shaking from an earthquake. Just as there are safer and less safe places to be on the surface of the earth during an earthquake, there are also various characteristics inside caves that make some cave locations safer or less safe than others. First of all, whether or not you feel an earthquake in a cave depends chiefly upon...

    link

    Can you feel an earthquake if you're in a cave? Is it safer to be in a cave during an earthquake?

    There is nothing different about a cave that would make it immune to the shaking from an earthquake. Just as there are safer and less safe places to be on the surface of the earth during an earthquake, there are also various characteristics inside caves that make some cave locations safer or less safe than others. First of all, whether or not you feel an earthquake in a cave depends chiefly upon...

    Learn More
    link
    Aurora

    What are earthquake lights?

    Phenomena such as sheet lightning, balls of light, streamers, and steady glows, reported in association with earthquakes are called earthquake lights (EQL). Geophysicists differ on the extent to which they think that individual reports of unusual lighting near the time and epicenter of an earthquake actually represent EQL: some doubt that any of the reports constitute solid evidence for EQL...

    link

    What are earthquake lights?

    Phenomena such as sheet lightning, balls of light, streamers, and steady glows, reported in association with earthquakes are called earthquake lights (EQL). Geophysicists differ on the extent to which they think that individual reports of unusual lighting near the time and epicenter of an earthquake actually represent EQL: some doubt that any of the reports constitute solid evidence for EQL...

    Learn More
    link
    geocoded Did You Feel It? responses for a sonic boom off the coast of New Jersey on January 28, 2016

    How does the USGS tell the difference between an earthquake and a sonic boom?

    Steps to identification of a sonic boom:The USGS sees either nothing on our seismic records or a fairly short high-frequency signal that doesn't look like an earthquake.On rare occasions, we see the event on multiple stations, and the time difference between stations matches the speed of sound in air, which is slower than the speed of seismic waves in rock.Felt reports come from a wide area, which...

    link

    How does the USGS tell the difference between an earthquake and a sonic boom?

    Steps to identification of a sonic boom:The USGS sees either nothing on our seismic records or a fairly short high-frequency signal that doesn't look like an earthquake.On rare occasions, we see the event on multiple stations, and the time difference between stations matches the speed of sound in air, which is slower than the speed of seismic waves in rock.Felt reports come from a wide area, which...

    Learn More
  • Multimedia
    Damage from South Napa Earthquake
    link
    Image: USGS Scientist Installing Seismograph
    link
    Image: Seismographs at the U.S. Geological Survey
    link
    Airplane at McChord AFB
    link
    geocoded Did You Feel It? responses for a sonic boom off the coast of New Jersey on January 28, 2016
    link
  • Publications

    The severity of an earthquake

    The severity of an earthquake can be expressed in terms of both intensity and magnitude. However, the two terms are quite different, and they are often confused. Intensity is based on the observed effects of ground shaking on people, buildings, and natural features. It varies from place to place within the disturbed region depending on the location of the observer with respect to the earthquake ep

    ANSS-Advanced National Seismic System

    Estimating trajectories of supersonic objects using arrival times of sonic booms

  • News
    link

    South Napa Earthquake – One Year Later

    One year ago, the largest earthquake in over 25 years hit the San Francisco Bay Area, causing significant damage in California’s famous Napa Valley...

    Read Article
    link

    "Living in Earthquake Country: Los Angeles and the Big One" - Dr. Lucy Jones presentation at LA Natural History Museum

    "Living in Earthquake Country: Los Angeles and the Big One" - Dr. Lucy Jones presentation at LA Natural History Museum
    Read Article