Using thunderquakes to X-ray Earth – a new study shows urban seismology in action

With the help of thunderstorms and everyday fiber-optic cables, these scientists are revealing a hidden world underground.

By: Nolan Roth, The Ohio State University and Tieyuan Zhu, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 21, 2026

Words: 1,004

Last Updated: 1 month, 4 weeks ago

Body Text Preview

By Nolan Roth, The Ohio State University and Tieyuan Zhu, Penn State

When lightning strikes, it superheats the air around it and creates a shock wave that we hear as thunder. But thunder doesn’t just travel through the atmosphere to our ears.

When that energy reaches the ground, some of it is converted into seismic waves that ripple through the soil and rock beneath. The resulting vibrations are known as “thunderquakes.”

Until now, scientists haven’t …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us