Sports wins shake up quake monitors
Posted On: Jun. 18, 2018 10:11 AM CST
Catastrophe modeling firms, which already are modifying their earthquake models to include the effects of fracking, can add another man-made risk to their algorithms: unexpected sporting victories.
According to the Institute for Geological and Atmospheric Investigations in Mexico, earthquake sensors picked up seismological activity at 10:35 a.m. on Sunday. The likely cause? Large numbers of people jumping for joy after Mexico scored on champions Germany in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup, according to the institute.
Mexico, which has never won the World Cup, went on to hold the lead and caused one of the biggest upsets so far in the competition, which is currently taking place in Russia.
Millions of people gathered in public squares and parks in Mexico to watch the match, and huge celebrations followed the goal and the victory, according to news reports.
This isn’t the first time a sporting victory has led to seismic activity. In 1998, an earthquake was recorded when Louisiana State University’s football team upset Auburn in the so-called Earthquake Game. In addition, celebrations by Seattle Seahawks fans have also registered as minor earthquakes on seismic activity monitors at least a couple of times in the past 10 years.
None of the sports-related quakes caused any reported damage, but it feels like a trend is building.