Strange Lights Reported in the Sky During Morocco Earthquake
Friday’s devastating earthquake in Morocco not only caused widespread destruction and claimed the lives of thousands, but it also left many witnesses perplexed with reports of strange lights in the sky. Numerous people took to social media to share their experiences of witnessing unusual flashes and glows during the seismic event.
While it is challenging to verify these posts online, scientists have explained that earthquakes can give rise to various light phenomena in the atmosphere, indicating electrical changes beneath the surface. Geophysicist Friedman Freund stated that the earthquake in Morocco occurred at night, creating favorable conditions for the appearance of what are known as “earthquake lights.”
Several different types of lights can be associated with earthquakes, including lightning. However, earthquake lightning is not the typical lightning that occurs during a thunderstorm. It travels from the ground to the cloud and is powered by electrical charges associated with seismic activity within the Earth. Other lights observed during earthquakes are attributed to man-made artificial lighting sources, such as electricity poles or lamps.
The particular “earthquake lights” that Friedman refers to are generated by the movement of tectonic plates, which ultimately lead to an earthquake. These lights can manifest as a steady glow, balls of light, streamers, or even lightning, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Freund explains that our planet conducts electricity, as evidenced by the grounding of electrical currents when we plug a device into a wall outlet. During an earthquake, seismic forces deform rocks and minerals in the Earth’s crust, allowing electrical currents to flow. These accumulated electrical charges on the Earth’s surface can then produce electrical discharges, attracting positively charged particles in rocks to negatively charged particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The result is the phenomenon of light in the sky.
Friedman further notes that the brightness of these lights can be so intense that it is possible to read a paper using their glow. The color of the light depends on the type of atom present in the atmosphere, with oxygen molecules creating a reddish or greenish light and a mixture producing a bright yellow light.
In addition to the visual spectacle, changes in electrical charges during earthquakes can lead to headaches for humans and animals. This may also explain unusual behavior exhibited by animals just before an earthquake, as well as instances where people experience tingling sensations in their skin or see their hair stand on end.
While some geophysicists remain skeptical about the direct relationship between earthquake lights and seismic activity, evidence from historical reports suggests their existence even before the advent of electrical systems. Seismologist John Ibel supports the idea that earthquake lights are real, but acknowledges that not all earthquakes are accompanied by such phenomena. Factors such as the time of occurrence (most earthquakes happen during the day) and the depth of the earthquake may contribute to the lack of reported lights.
Researchers are now focused on studying the timing of earthquake lights in relation to seismic activity as a means of predicting these catastrophic events. If flashes of light occur before an earthquake, it could serve as an early warning sign if detected through instrumentation set up near major fault lines.
Predicting earthquakes is a challenging task due to the inability to directly measure the pressure build-up inside the Earth. However, finding phenomena like earthquake lights that provide insight into the pre-earthquake conditions can potentially aid in forecasting these natural disasters.
As scientists continue to explore and debate the connection between earthquake lights and seismic activity, their research holds promise for better understanding and predicting these deadly events.