Unexplained ‘Skyquakes’ Are Shaking the Globe—What’s Causing Them?

Skyquakes, the sudden, loud booming sounds seemingly emanating from the sky, have been perplexing scientists and the general public for centuries. With no clear source or explanation, these mysterious noises have been reported across the globe, including notable occurrences in the United States. Despite extensive scientific research, the true cause of skyquakes remains elusive, leaving experts baffled.

Skyquakes: A Global Phenomenon

Skyquakes are not limited to any one part of the world. From Japan to Belgium and the United States, these strange booming noises have been reported for over two centuries. Different cultures have given them various names: in Japan, they are known as “uminari,” which translates to “cries from the sea,” while in Belgium, they are called “mistpouffers” or “fog belches.” In the United States, particularly in the Finger Lakes region of New York, the phenomenon is referred to as the “Seneca Guns”.¹

The sounds can be incredibly loud, sometimes resembling the blast of artillery or a car backfiring. These reports often occur without any visible cause, adding to the mystery. Historical records of skyquakes date back to the early 1800s, including during significant seismic events like the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes.² However, skyquakes have been heard in the absence of any seismic activity, adding to the confusion surrounding their origin.

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Historical Accounts of Skyquakes

The earliest documented reports of skyquakes come from the United States during the 1811 New Madrid earthquake, a 7.2 magnitude tremor that rattled Missouri. Residents at the time described hearing artillery-like sounds either before or during the earthquake. Another significant event occurred in 1886 during the Charleston, South Carolina earthquake. Even weeks after the 7.3 magnitude earthquake, people continued to report loud detonations and roaring sounds, a phenomenon that baffled both locals and scientists alike.

James Fenimore Cooper, a famous American writer, documented one of these events in his short story “The Lake Gun,” recounting the booming sounds that echoed across Seneca Lake in 1850. Cooper described the sound as “deep, hollow, distant, and imposing,” with the lake seemingly “speaking to the surrounding hills“.³ These vivid descriptions highlight the eerie nature of the phenomenon and its historical significance.

Possible Explanations: Natural and Manmade

Over the years, scientists have proposed various explanations for skyquakes, but none have definitively solved the puzzle. Initial theories focused on natural causes such as seismic activity, large storm waves, and methane gas releases from underwater beds. However, many of these explanations have been ruled out or remain inconclusive.

Meteor Explosions: Bolides

One plausible explanation is the occurrence of bolides, which are meteors that explode upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. This theory suggests that the sonic boom from such an event could cause the loud, booming sound heard during a skyquake, but without any visible meteor due to thick cloud cover. The explosion would create an acoustic disturbance that could travel across large areas.

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Atmospheric Phenomena

A more recent theory posits that skyquakes may be caused by atmospheric disturbances. In 2020, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill examined seismic data from the EarthScope Transportable Array (ESTA), a network of over 400 seismic stations across the U.S. Their research ruled out earthquakes as the cause, suggesting that skyquakes are more likely atmospheric phenomena. Eli Bird, one of the researchers involved in the study, stated, “We’re assuming it’s propagating through the atmosphere rather than the ground.” This conclusion supports the idea that atmospheric conditions, such as oceanic waves or thunder, could be amplifying sounds across a wide area, giving rise to the mysterious booms.

Sonic Booms and Military Exercises

Another popular explanation is that some skyquakes could be the result of sonic booms produced by military aircraft breaking the sound barrier. While this theory may account for some modern reports, it fails to explain historical skyquakes that occurred before the advent of supersonic flight.

Unsolved Mystery

Despite the many theories, there is no single explanation that accounts for all skyquakes. Scientists continue to investigate the phenomenon, but the diversity of locations, from inland lakes like Seneca to coastal areas in Japan and Belgium, suggests that there may be multiple causes for the strange noises. Eli Bird and his team at the University of North Carolina emphasized the complexity of the situation, acknowledging that different regions may experience skyquakes for different reasons.

Ultimately, skyquakes remain one of nature’s unsolved mysteries. As technology advances and more data becomes available, researchers hope to one day crack the code behind these eerie booms. For now, however, skyquakes continue to rumble through the skies, baffling scientists and intriguing those lucky—or unlucky—enough to hear them.

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