Subterranean rumbling is a phenomenon in which the ground vibrates and makes sounds due to an earthquake.

During earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, the ground vibrates, sometimes creating short-period seismic wave motion (ground motion) that reaches the air and becomes sounds (sound waves), and low sounds can be heard.[1]

This often occurs during shallow-focus earthquakes and earthquake swarms. Even microearthquakes that produce noticeable tremors can sometimes produce rumbling.

Hard ground tends to amplify rumbling.

In earthquake-prone Japan rumbling is frequently observed near Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture. This is believed to be due to local exposure of basement rocks.[2] During the 1965 Matsushiro earthquake swarm, a remarkable subterranean rumbling was observed.[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ Tokuji Utsu『地震学 第3版』P.308 ISBN 9784320046375
  2. ^ "地鳴り" (in Japanese). kotobank. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  3. ^ "松代群発地震50年特設サイト". www.data.jma.go.jp. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  4. ^ "鳴動" (in Japanese). kotobank. Retrieved 2023-04-13.