During Taylor Swift’s concerts at Lumen Field stadium in Seattle, the seismic activity recorded was comparable to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake, making it a unique and remarkable occurrence. The data from the two sold-out shows, which attracted a combined audience of over 144,000 fans, showed that the impact surpassed the previous seismic record set in 2011 during the “Beast Quake” event. Back in 2011, the Seattle Seahawks’ American footballer Marshawn Lynch’s touchdown triggered a magnitude 2.0 seismic response from the enthusiastic crowd.
Geologist Professor Jackie Caplan Auerbach from Western Washington University playfully coined the term “Seismic Swift” to describe the significant impact of Taylor Swift’s three-and-a-half-hour Eras tour performance. The seismic data analysis was prompted by a local fan’s inquiry on Facebook.
I guess I should show the data. Swifties > Seahawks fans.
(except data from the concert may not be caused by the fans–it may be the sound system, so not really a fair comparison). pic.twitter.com/szwowOYQFi
— Jackie Caplan-Auerbach 🇺🇦 🌻 (@geophysichick) July 27, 2023
Mouse Reusch, a seismologist at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, conducted further analysis to determine which songs had the most significant impact based on beats per minute. Notably, songs like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” garnered the most pronounced responses from the crowd.
A magnitude 2.3 earthquake is considered minor and typically not strong enough to cause any significant damage to buildings or infrastructure. However, it was an extraordinary and unexpected outcome resulting from the collective energy and excitement of Taylor Swift’s dedicated fans.
While it is not yet entirely clear what specific factors caused the ground to shake during the concerts, some hypotheses suggest that the vibrations might have been influenced by the powerful bass and subwoofers used in the performances or even the enthusiastic jumping and dancing of the audience.
The unique seismic activity during Taylor Swift’s concerts has garnered attention and curiosity from the public and experts alike. Looking ahead, local seismologists are eagerly anticipating Beyonce’s upcoming concert at the same venue in September to see if her fans can rival or surpass the seismic record set by Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.
Tickets for the UK leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour went on sale, creating both excitement and frustration for fans. The European leg of the tour, set to begin in May 2024, will include 13 shows across the UK. Swift’s concerts have consistently drawn immense demand, with previous shows in the US selling out almost instantly and causing technical difficulties on the Ticketmaster website. As a result, Ticketmaster faced an investigation into its system due to the overwhelming demand from fans.