Photo: Getty Images
PEABODY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – On Wednesday night, residents in Peabody received a likely explanation for the loud booms they have been hearing over the past few months.
Dr. John Ebel, a research scientist from the Weston Observatory of Boston College, held a public forum at the Wiggins Auditorium. He began his presentation by explaining similar events that occurred in 2015 in Plainfield, Connecticut.
“Instead of Connecticut, you could put Peabody there and it would exactly the same story.”
Read More: Massachusetts Utility Companies Joining Forces To Expand EV Infrastructure
Ebel explained a concept known as earthquake swarms, which result from the shifting of tectonic plates. Instead of shaking the ground, the energy from these shifts moves to the earth’s surface in sound waves.
“If you think you heard an earthquake, but you didn’t feel it, that makes perfect sense.” Ebel said these are seismic waves that come up to the surface and convert into sound waves.
“So, you are hearing sound waves,” he continued, “you are indeed hearing the earthquake.”
While that may sound dangerous, Dr. Ebel says the swarms do not cause any damage. They just happen to be really loud.
WBZ’s Jim MacKay (@JimMaKayOnAir) has the story:
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App