A skyquake is a phenomenon where a loud sound is reported to originate from the sky. It often manifests as a banging, or a horn-like noise.
Skyquakes are very real. What causes them, however, is shrouded in mystery. Save 40% when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine! If you've ever heard a loud, distant booming noise with no obvious explanation like a thunderstorm or a car backfiring, then you might have experienced a skyquake.
Causes remains elusive
As many skyquakes seem to happen near large, deep lakes, one suggestion is that they come from gases released from lake sediments. However, some skyquakes happen away from bodies of water. Other suggestions include distant storms, earthquakes, or thunder cracking over the ocean.
The first skyquakes were documented in 1811 after people in New Madrid, Missouri heard the strange sounds during a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. Residents reported hearing 'artillery-like sounds' before or during the quake hit.
They have been reported from an Adriatic island in 1824; Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria in Australia; Belgium; frequently on calm summer days in the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada; Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland; Scotland; Cedar Keys, Florida; Franklinville, New York in 1896 ...
Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a sleep disorder that makes you hear explosions or other sudden, loud sounds in your sleep. It can be scary to experience, but EHS isn't painful and isn't a sign that something is wrong with your ears or brain.
Skyquake was sent to Earth to guard Energon deposits. Years later he was awoken by Starscream but was soon killed by Bumblebee. Skyquake was resurrected by Starscream as a Terrorcon but ended up getting trapped in another Dimension after a Ground Bridge failure and lost his right arm in the process.
High-frequency vibrations from the shallow earthquake generate the booming sound; when earthquakes are deeper, those vibrations never reach the surface.
Scientists believe skyquakes have a variety of causes, including meteors, coronal mass ejections, escaping gas, and collapsing landmasses.
Skyquake and Dreadwing's were twin brothers due to the result of a split-spark. Dreadwing came to Earth in order to reunite with Skyquake, however when Dreadwing sensed and actually heard of his brother's demise by Megatron and shown by Soundwave, he vowed to avenge Skquake by destroying every single Autobot on Earth.
Sonic boom is an impulsive noise similar to thunder. It is caused by an object moving faster than sound -- about 750 miles per hour at sea level. An aircraft traveling through the atmosphere continuously produces air-pressure waves similar to the water waves caused by a ship's bow.
Despite numerous theories, the exact cause of skyquakes remains elusive. Some researchers have suggested meteoric impacts, changes in air pressure, seismic activity, or even gas escaping from lakes. Others believe military drills or airplanes may be responsible.
The designated areas for supersonic operations are approved by the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. The strongest sonic boom ever recorded was produced by a F-4 flying at an altitude of 100 feet. It did not cause injury to the researchers who were exposed to it, according to the Air Force.
This rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave that we hear as thunder.
Earth is a noisy, vocal planet that takes full-throated advantage of its thirty-octave range. So when parts of an active plate boundary are found to be completely mute, emitting not even the faintest seismic whispers, geophysicists take note.
The "boom" is experienced when there is a sudden change in pressure; therefore, an N-wave causes two booms – one when the initial pressure rise reaches an observer, and another when the pressure returns to normal. This leads to a distinctive "double boom" from a supersonic aircraft.
Skyquake - Mid forties. Characters from the Movie-verse: 'Bots: Optimus Prime - Mid forties to early fifties.
Personality. Skyquake's loyalties are unlikely to be questioned anytime soon. One of the most well-known and well-respected Destron Seeker commanders, he is completely loyal to the cause.
His split-Spark twin brother is the similarly honor-bound Dreadwing. The two are able to sense each other, even across the galaxy.
Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is an abnormal sensory perception during sleep in which a person experiences auditory hallucinations that are loud and of short duration when falling asleep or waking up. The noise may be frightening, typically occurs only occasionally, and is not a serious health concern.
Some people experience “exploding head syndrome” or hypnagogic auditory hallucinations that manifest as very loud booms or gunshot noises, typically when they are about to fall asleep. These incidents can occur among people with anxiety and exacerbate their anxiety symptoms.
Some people experience hallucinations just as they're falling asleep (called hypnagogic hallucinations) or just as they start to wake up (hypnopompic hallucinations). These are thought to occur due to your brain being partly in a dreaming state and in themselves are nothing to worry about.