Mysterious tremors felt in eastern Denmark last weekend were caused by “acoustic pressure waves” from an “unknown source” in the atmosphere, experts have said. The vibrations — which were measured at a magnitude of 2.3 — struck the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea at around 3pm local time on Saturday.
It was initially suspected that the tremors were caused by geological activity, and then by controlled explosions being set off around the same time some 90 miles away in Poland. However, analysis of seismograph recordings has since ruled out both possibilities.
In a statement published yesterday, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) noted that they had received a number of public inquiries following the tremors on Saturday afternoon.
The organisation operates a number of seismographs located across Denmark — including two on the island of Bornholm that collect data round-the-clock.
They said: “Seismologists with GEUS ascertained, after thorough examination of the records, that the recorded tremors on Bornholm are not due to earthquakes.”
Instead, they added, they are “most likely due to acoustic pressure waves from one or more events somewhere in the atmosphere.
“However, it is not possible for the researchers to conclude what has produced the powerful pressure waves.”
One possible source of pressure waves in the atmosphere is the explosion of a meteor as it burns up due to friction with the air.
GEUS was able to put one theory for the origin of the tremors categorically to rest, however.
They explained: “The seismologists can report that it is unlikely that the tremors originate from controlled explosions in Poland.”
This detonation, they explained, “was carried out shortly before the first reports of tremors on Bornholm.”
The Polish authorities have explained that the explosions were part of the Anakonda23 military exercises in Ustka, which involved both jet fighters and the firing of live artillery rounds.
According to the Associated Press, GEUS received “more than 60” tips from the residents of Bornholm concerning the “earthquake-like” tremors.
The island — which lies south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland — is home to nearly 40,000 people.
Those who felt the tremors described experiencing deep rumbling, shaking, rattling and a feeling of changing pressure in the ear.
While no-one was hurt, it has been reported that the tremors caused a crack to develop in the wall of one house on the island.
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According to the Danish tabloid newspaper Ekstra Bladet (Literally: “Extra Magazine”), on feeling the tremors, one Bornholm resident looked to the sky expecting to see fighter jets.
They said: “You think, ‘is it the Russians? Because I haven’t experienced that rumble before.
“It was probably mostly a sound, but I still can’t compare it to anything else.”
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