A mild earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale struck Faridabad, Haryana, on Thursday evening. The tremor occurred at 6:33 pm IST, with the epicentre located at latitude 28.386° North and longitude 77.258° East. The earthquake originated at a shallow depth of just 5 km, which is relatively close to the surface.

Residents reported experiencing not only the tremor but also a loud, blast-like sound coinciding with the earthquake. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed the details of the event, noting that the shallow depth could explain the auditory sensations many individuals experienced during the quake.

According to the NCS, the earthquake’s shallow depth allowed seismic waves to reach the surface more quickly, potentially contributing to the loud rumble or booming sound that was reported. This phenomenon is not uncommon in small earthquakes, especially those that occur at shallow depths.

Understanding the Loud Sound

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has explained that small, shallow earthquakes can generate high-frequency vibrations that travel to the surface, producing audible booming sounds. These sounds may resemble distant gunfire, thunder, or explosions. In some instances, these sounds can be heard before the stronger shaking is felt, as the faster-moving P-waves arrive ahead of the slower S-waves.

The depth of an earthquake significantly influences how its energy is experienced at the surface. When an earthquake occurs close to the ground, its seismic waves have a shorter distance to travel, allowing some high-frequency vibrations to retain enough energy to create an audible rumble. Conversely, deeper earthquakes tend to produce less pronounced sounds due to the attenuation of high-frequency energy as it travels through greater depths.

In the case of the Faridabad earthquake, the shallow depth of 5 km likely contributed to the loud sounds reported by residents. However, it is essential to note that the depth alone cannot definitively explain the auditory experiences without further acoustic and seismic analysis.

Audible Sounds from Low-Magnitude Earthquakes

A magnitude 2.9 earthquake can indeed produce audible sounds. Research published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America indicates that earthquakes within the magnitude 2–3 range can generate sounds through their initial compressional waves. The sounds experienced by individuals are influenced by various factors, including their distance from the epicentre, the earthquake’s depth, local geological conditions, and the frequency of the seismic waves.

In this instance, the shallow depth of the earthquake likely played a role in the loud sounds reported by residents. However, it is crucial to understand that the sound was not necessarily indicative of an explosion. Instead, it may have been the result of seismic energy travelling through the ground and transitioning into the air.

Further investigations and measurements would be necessary to ascertain the precise cause of the sounds experienced during the earthquake. Such studies could provide valuable insights into the relationship between earthquake characteristics and the sounds they generate.

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