What is sonic boom? Here’s what causes it and why it’s not an earthquake

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In the Long Beach and Orange areas of Southern California, the sound barrier recently hit residents. This caused a shaking that, to many, looked like a familiar earthquake.

However, there are major differences between the two events, to the point that the USGS can barely measure whether a sonic boom has occurred.

Newsweek analyzes what can cause a sonic boom and the differences between this and an earthquake.

What is sonic boom?

According to NASA, a sonic boom is a thunder-like noise heard when something travels faster than the speed of sound.

This can be an aircraft or a spacecraft, and it occurs when the air is displaced by such a vehicle, resulting in the formation of a shock wave, which is released sharply when the resulting pressure is released.

An example of how this works is similar when a boat creates a small wave in the water. As the boat moves through the water, it pushes the water aside, creating a state of wakefulness.

Similarly, if the plane is flying fast in the air, it pushes the air sideways, which can result in a shock wave, due to the buildup of air particles. When the pressure of these particles is released, a bang is heard.

The change in air pressure is what makes the sound ring. However, some have suggested that there could be seismic qualities to such an event.

The difference between sonic boom and earthquake

According to the USGS, they will not use seismic instruments to measure penetrating sound, as it occurs in the atmosphere rather than on the ground.

However, there are some who, due to the power of the penetrating sound, have reported a vibration in their area, which means that it has been brought to the attention of seismologists.

A sonic boom can have some of the seismic characteristics that people on Earth feel. But they, in general, do not affect what happens at ground level often or to a great extent.

The main differences include the length of the high-frequency signal. If seismologists catch any signal at all, it will only be for a very short time due to the difference in the speed of sound in the air and the speed of seismic waves in rocks, which cause earthquakes.

The second limiting factor is the affected area. Usually, when a thump is heard, there is a wider range of reports from those who felt something, whereas earthquakes tend to be more localized.

Finally, the military often inform the USGS of their intentions to fly aircraft into an area, usually indicating that the shaking or banging heard by residents is likely to be a sonic boom, not an earthquake.

When it comes to earthquakes, confusion can often be found in the fact that, on occasion, earthquakes can make similar noises when they occur.

A sonic boom occurs when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier. Getty Images

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