© AP Photo/George Walker IV
Seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Seattle during a Taylor Swift concert, according to a seismologist. The phenomenon occurred during Swift’s two-night stop at Lumen Field, which saw a record attendance of over 72,000 fans on July 22 and 23.
Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, a geology professor at Western Washington University, noticed a pattern of signals during the concert that was identical on both nights. She initially detected a difference of roughly 26 minutes between the two nights, but later discovered that the Sunday show was delayed by half an hour, which accounted for the discrepancy.
Caplan-Auerbach has dubbed the activity “Swift Quake,” comparing it to the 2011 “Beast Quake,” which occurred when Seattle Seahawks fans erupted in cheers following a touchdown by running back Marshawn Lynch. While “Beast Quake” had a magnitude of 0.3, “Swift Quake” surpassed it by 0.3 magnitude.
The primary difference between the two events, according to Caplan-Auerbach, is the duration of shaking. Cheering after a touchdown lasts for a couple of seconds and eventually dies down, whereas a concert has a sustained energy that can drive into the ground and shake it for a longer period.
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour will continue with two nights at Santa Clara, Calif. on July 28 and 29, followed by a wrap-up of her domestic run in Los Angeles on Aug. 9. She will then kick off the international leg of the tour in Mexico City on Aug. 24, running through next summer and concluding in London on Aug. 17, 2024. The tour spans all of her musical eras and albums, including her most recent tenth studio album Midnights.
The “Cruel Summer” singer’s performances have proven to be not only a treat for the ears but also a force to be reckoned with in terms of seismic activity. Swift’s fans, affectionately known as “Swifties,” have shown that their energy and enthusiasm can truly shake things up.
