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

When lightning strikes, it superheats the air and creates a shock wave heard as thunder. A portion of that energy converts into seismic waves, known as thunderquakes, which ripple through the Earth's subsurface. While scientists have not fully understood these signals, a new study reveals that thunderquakes can be used to map underground structures, such as groundwater movement, environmental contamination, and sinkholes, much like X-rays image the human body.

Researchers utilized fiber-optic cables, often found in communities worldwide but rarely used as seismic measuring instruments, to listen to thunderstorms and convert them into vibration sensors. This technique, called distributed acoustic sensing, provides an inexpensive and continuous method for monitoring the shallow subsurface, potentially aiding in hazard assessment and urban planning.