'Swift Quake' Registers Magnitude 2.3 Seismic Activity During Seattle Leg of Concert Tour

(Photo : Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
The ‘Swift Quake’ registered a magnitude 2.3 seismic activity in Seattle.

The Seattle leg of the Eras concert tour created a buzz with a magnitude 2.3 seismic activity, now famously known as the "Swift Quake."

Music lovers were thrilled as the ground shook during the unforgettable Swift Quake concert experience.

Magnitude 2.3 Swift Quake

According to seismologist Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, the lively and passionate fans of Taylor Swift, known as "Swifties," who attended her "Eras" tour concerts in Seattle at Lumen Field, caused seismic activity that could be compared to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

This seismic event, humorously dubbed the "Swift Quake," drew similarities to the 2011 "Beast Quake," which occurred during an impressive touchdown by running back Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch.

Interestingly, both events were recorded by the same local seismometer.

Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, a geology professor at Western Washington University, stumbled upon this comparison while browsing a Facebook group dedicated to earthquake enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest.

Intrigued, she quickly delved into analyzing the data from the Swift concerts on both July 22 and July 23.

 Upon comparing the concert data from both nights, Caplan-Auerbach immediately noticed identical signal patterns, which she cleverly layered on top of one another due to their striking similarity.

Besides some unexpected song choices by Taylor Swift, the main difference between the performances on July 22 and July 23 was a duration of approximately 26 minutes.

Caplan-Auerbach later discovered the Sunday show was nearly a half-hour late after asking around.

Seismic Activity Explained

Caplan-Auerbach pointed out that despite the "Swift Quake" and the infamous "Beast Quake" being only 0.3 magnitudes apart in seismic activity, what makes the Swift event remarkable is the overwhelming presence of Swifties, surpassing the number of Seahawks supporters in attendance.

The shaking that occurred during "Beast Quake," according to the geology professor, more than doubled. The duration of shaking is the main difference, according to Caplan-Auerbach.

After a touchdown, there is a brief period of cheering until it faded away.

Compared to a concert, it is far more spontaneous, according to GEO TV.

Caplan-Auerbach gathered data from Taylor Swift's concert over the course of around 10 hours, where rhythm dictated behavior/ the beat, the speakers, and the music: all of that force has the potential to rock the ground.

Seismologist Mouse Reusch of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network explained that the waves were converted into a sonogram in order to determine which songs had the greatest influence based on the beats per minute.

One of her students thought it was appropriate that the songs "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space" received the loudest responses, according to Sky News.

Also Read: Large Earthquakes Show Fault Movement on GPS Data 2 Hours Prior Seismic Rupture 

Science in the Eras Tour

Caplan-Auerbach is enthusiastic about the possibility of becoming a Swiftie herself, but her main motivation is the chance to demystify science.

She claims that one of her favorite things about being a scientist is being able to demonstrate that science doesn't always take place in a lab wearing a white coat.

According to Caplan-Auerbach, science is based on everyday observations and experiences.

Even Swift sensed the enthusiasm from her West Coast Swifties, and on Monday she praised her Seattle audience on Instagram for all the yelling, jumping, dancing, and screaming at the top of their lungs.

It was, in fact, one of Swift's all-time greatest weekends, she claims.

Swift's concerts in Seattle mark a significant moment as her "Eras" tour, the first in five years, nears its conclusion across the United States.

Throughout the tour, Taylor Swift achieved numerous milestones, including garnering praise for her positive impact on regional economies and breaking attendance records in Pittsburgh.

As the "Eras" tour progresses, Taylor Swift's journey continues, with her next stop scheduled for Friday in Santa Clara, California.

The tour will culminate with six final performances in Los Angeles the following month.

After that, Swift tours abroad in support of "Eras," starting on August 24 in Mexico City, CNN reported.

Related Article: Remnant of Ancient Lake Puts Pressure on San Andreas Fault, Might Trigger Major Earthquakes