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Earthquakes are surprising enough to anyone in the area, but those that occur in the air are even more astonishing. Imagine you're walking along peacefully, and you start to notice something strange. You look up at the sky and see something unusual, something that causes loud rumblings and might even trigger tremors . How would you feel?
The phenomenon is known as a skyquake , or skyquake. While not new, scientists have so far been unable to provide a logical explanation for how and why it occurs.
Skyquakes can occur anywhere in the world , but the United States, South America, and Australia have been the most recent places to witness them. People were sleeping peacefully when suddenly they heard a sound that rattled their windows. Anyone could have thought it was the beginning of Armageddon or the end of the world. And indeed, it's common for those who have seen them to post alarmist comments on their social media profiles. But the truth is, there's nothing to worry about.
What Causes Skies?
As we mentioned, there's still no single theory that explains the phenomenon. However, if you live or have lived for a while in a coastal region, you've probably heard the waves crashing against the cliffs. Well, it turns out that the powerful noise they generate can be due to methane released by crystals on the ocean floor. When burned, this gas can produce a tremendous roar.
Continuing with the topic of waves, surfers often report hearing very loud noises while practicing the sport. Even tsunamis can be accompanied by this surprising sound.
Other theories indicate that skylights could be produced by:
- supersonic aircraft that break the sound barrier
- un meteorite that has exploded in the atmosphere
- earthquakes
However, none of these theories have been proven . It is true that skyquakes occur in coastal regions, but they don't only form there; moreover, experts in supersonic aircraft deny that the sound of skyquakes is similar to that of these aircraft. And, in the case of meteorites, these rocks from outer space leave a flash of light when they enter the atmosphere, which is brighter the larger they are. Skyquakes do not emit any kind of light.
The most widely accepted scientific explanation is that when layers of cold and warm air collide, they create an explosion , producing a sound you're unlikely to forget. In fact, it's common for people to require medical attention due to severe headaches, stomach upset, or other minor ailments.
It's new?
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It's very rare, but no, it's not a new phenomenon. Records show that they exist as far back as February 1829. At that time, a group of settlers in New South Wales (in Australia) wrote in their travel journal: "About 3 p.m., Mr. Hume and I were writing a letter on the ground. The day had been surprisingly fine, without a cloud in the sky or the slightest breeze. Suddenly we heard what seemed to be the detonation of a cannon at a distance of five or six miles. It was not the hollow sound of an earth explosion, nor the sound produced by a falling tree, but the classic sound of a piece of artillery . (...) One of the men immediately climbed a tree, but could see nothing out of the ordinary."
Skyquakes have been observed on every continent at some point. In Ireland, for example, they are very frequent, so we are talking about a phenomenon that truly exists, but about which we still know very little. In the 70s, skyquakes became such a troublesome issue for the United States that President Jimmy Carter ordered an official investigation into the matter. Unfortunately, he was unable to determine their origin.
Famous cases of cielomotos
In addition to those mentioned, there are other famous cases:
- Very few years ago, in 2010, a sky motorcycle was reported in Uruguay. Specifically, it was on February 15 at 5 in the morning (GMT time). It caused, in addition to the noise, tremors in the city.
- On 20 October 2006, towns between Cornwall and Devon, UK, said that "mysterious explosions" had damaged houses.
- On January 12, 2004, one of these phenomena shook Dover (Delaware).
- On February 9, 1994, one was felt in Pittsburgh (United States).
Since they can't be detected at the moment, we'll have to be patient and wait to see when and where the next one will occur. Who knows, it might happen closer than you think.