‘Frost quakes’ were felt around Chicago this week. Here’s what scientists do and don’t know about the seismic phenomenon
By Katie Hunt, CNN ...
Updated 2:04 PM EST, Fri January 19, 2024
(CNN) - A cold weather phenomenon known as frost quakes, which make loud booming or popping sounds and unleash small earthquake-like tremors, was felt around Chicago during this week’s bout of below-zero temperatures.
Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford said there was no formal reporting system for frost quakes, which occur after a sudden freezing of the ground, but he had seen and heard reports of the phenomenon on social media. He’s also experienced some frost quakes, officially known as
cryoseism, in the past.
“It sort of sounds like somebody is either snapping a very large branch off a tree or maybe popping very large bubble wrap. It’s not quite gunfire, but it’s sort of like that, and it can be that loud,” Ford said.
“The shaking is less common,” he added. “Those can be like small earthquakes, not nearly to the extent of where pictures fall off the wall.”
Frost quakes can be unsettling, especially if people aren’t aware of them, but they don’t pose any real danger, Ford added. In extreme cases, they can cause damage to roads or building foundations, but that’s rare. ...
Read more at: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/19/world/frost-quakes-cold-weather-seismic-phenomenon-scn/index.html
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