Fire in the Sky
Usually found in extreme polar regions, the recent outbreak of frost quakes, known to meteorologists as cryoseisms, are now affecting many residents of Toronto, Canada's most populous city.
The weather-related phenomenon, which can feel like an earthquake, happens when water and moisture deep underground freeze as the temperature drops.
Frost quakes typically occur between midnight and dawn, the coldest part of the night, thus many residents are being jolted awake by the booming sounds.
"I experienced a small earthquake in California many years ago, and the sensation was very similar," Melissa Young, a US citizen visiting friends in Thornhill, a suburb of Toronto, told RT. "I was surprised to hear it was a frost quake, something I've never heard of before."
"Nature is so awesome," she added.
The effects of a cryoseism, as opposed to an earthquake, "are very localized," according to the Maine Geological Survey. Thus, residents just a few hundred yards away from the impact zone may not experience anything out of the ordinary.
"The reason that the vibrations do not travel very far is that cryoseisms don't release much energy compared with a true earthquake caused by dislocation of rock within the earth," the Maine Geological Survey says. "On the other hand, since cryoseisms occur at the ground surface they can cause significant effects right at the site, enough to jar people awake."
In the majority of cases, frost quakes occur after heavy rain or snow when a large amount of water seeps into the ground. Toronto was hit by freezing rain followed by warmer temperatures, before the recent cold snap.
"They are incredibly rare," the Toronto Star reported Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson as saying. This week was his first experience of them in 30 years, he said.
Social media sites over the weekend were mostly devoted to the midnight rattling, as residents attempted to make sense of what was happening.
Comment: So rare and yet, so commonly used of late to explain 'mystery booms' ...
SOTT.net sez 'BS alert!'
This is what cryoseisms sound like, nothing like a "sudden explosive sound that shook my whole house."
Given that fireballs are raining all over the place, isn't it far more likely these folks are hearing overhead meteor explosions?
Multiple fireballs: Over 1,400 reports in 48 hours from coast to coast; booms; ground shaking, house shaking explosion
Reader Comments
I was just LAUGHING OUT LOUD MYSELF........but I think the best has to be the new "Polar Vortex".....LOL...... I guess it does sound more 'fun' than ICE AGE.......it's even 'fun' to say........VORTEX!!! lol You said it best lunadauhnn...."I've never heard such CRAPPLE in my life. Who thinks this stuff up?" Even worse is that most of the world is buying right into it. I guess ignorance is bliss........for now
Peace!
I have to wonder where the elders stories are? The people in their 70's and 80's for instance reassuring everyone that, 'yes, these are like what I heard back in the winter of ...' Instead I saw a video of an elderly woman who lived in that area all her life and got the scare of her life when she heard it. These kinds of temperatures are not a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Reports at least are saying things like 'worst in 20 years', etc. I grew up in the Prairies of Canada and in the 60's this was a normal winter. Bloody cold and lots of snow. People bundled up and waited it out. And how come I haven't heard of any 'frost quakes' around Winnipeg? The area that was compared to Mars for cold just a short time ago? It is surrounded by lakes and water and ... don't appear to be any stories of frost quakes coming from that region that I have heard of. I could be wrong but isn't Toronto kind of at the top end of the whole Madrid Fault line geology? I don't know ... something appears to be going on but I am very, very skeptical of it being 'frost quakes' - particularly when the media seems intent on convincing everyone so hard. Just my two cents ...
I've never heard such crapple in my life. Who thinks this stuff up? He/she should write a book...it would be a best seller judging by the way the sheeple are swallowing these explanations hook, line, and sinker!