Taylor Swift Fans Cause “Swift Quake” at Concert in Seattle, Seismologists Say
Taylor Swift fans in Seattle took the singer’s advice to “shake it off” a little too literally, as their energetic dancing and cheering resulted in seismic activity comparable to a 2.3-magnitude earthquake, according to seismologists. The incident, affectionately dubbed the “Swift quake” by fans, occurred during Swift’s “Eras” tour concert at Lumen Field.
Seismologist Jackie Caplan-Auerbach from Western Washington University was the first to analyze the seismic data after noticing discussions about Pacific Northwest earthquakes in a social media group she monitors. Caplan-Auerbach collected 10 hours of data, including before and after the concert, to examine the ground shaking caused by the event.
The seismic data showed that the activity generated by Swift’s concert was similar in intensity to the “Beast quake” in 2011, which occurred during a Seattle Seahawks football game. However, Caplan-Auerbach pointed out that the two events were different, making direct comparisons challenging.
Fellow seismologist James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London, explained that human activity, such as enthusiastic cheering and dancing, can generate vibrations that send energy into the ground. These vibrations travel as sound waves through the Earth and are measured using seismometers. Hammond noted that a 2.3-magnitude earthquake is relatively small and would have only been felt close to the concert venue without causing any damage.
Similar spikes in seismic activity are known to occur at music festivals and sports matches. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, vibrations from human activity decreased significantly due to lockdowns and social restrictions.
Although specific songs were not responsible for the vibrations at Taylor Swift’s concert, it is likely that the combination of the booming sound system and the enthusiastic crowd caused the activity, experts say.
Taylor Swift has yet to publicly acknowledge the seismic activity, but she posted on social media that the Seattle concerts were some of her favorite shows. Swift’s U.S. tour is currently in California, and she will soon be performing in Mexico.
Geophysicist Tarje Nissen-Meyer from the University of Oxford explained that the vibrations caused by the concert were a fundamental principle of physics. Vibrations from all sources continuously excite the Earth, and having thousands of Swifties dancing in sync introduces a substantial vibrational force onto the ground.
Seismic waves are currently used to study various natural phenomena, such as landslides and ocean weather. With advancements in high-precision seismic instrumentation, experts believe that more social events, like Taylor Swift concerts, could be detected in the future.
The next major artist to perform at Lumen Field will be Beyoncé in September, and Caplan-Auerbach jokingly tweeted about working on a proposal to compare the seismic activity from both concerts. “For science,” she added.
The “Swift quake” incident has sparked headlines and discussions about ticket operators and the unprecedented demand for concert tickets worldwide. Taylor Swift’s loyal fans continue to express their excitement and frustration on social media platforms.