We Can't Calm Down After Taylor Swift Fans Caused Seismic Activity Equivalent of 2.3 Magnitude Earthquake

A seismologist examined the seismic activity generated from two Taylor Swift The Eras tour concerts in Seattle was the equivalent to that of an earthquake.

By Corinne Heller Jul 28, 2023 3:33 PMTags
Watch: Taylor Swift Fans Cause Seismic Activity Equivalent of 2.3 Magnitude Earthquake

When it comes to shaking it off, nobody quite does it like Taylor Swift and her fans.

And this may just be a scientific fact. Washington State seismologist Jackie Caplan-Auerbach examined seismic wave data from a station located outside of Lumen Field in Seattle, where Swift performed concerts July 22 and July 22 as part of her Eras tour.

As for the findings? Caplan-Auerbach told CNN the activity at the stadium on those nights caused seismic activity equivalent of a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

"For Taylor Swift, I collected about 10 hours of data where rhythm controlled the behavior," she said. "The music, the speakers, the beat. All that energy can drive into the ground and shake it."

The seismologist, who works as a geology professor at Western Washington University, performed the analysis in response to a query on a Pacific Northwest earthquake group she moderates on Facebook, in which a person pondered the differences in signal between a Swift concert and a Seattle Seahawks game—which are also played at Lumen Field, which can seat about 70,000 people.

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Taylor Swift's Stunning The Eras Tour Stage Costumes

Compared to the 2011 "Beast Quake," when fans responded excitedly to a touchdown by running back Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch, there was a clear winner.

"I will say Swifties have it in the bag," Caplan Auerbach told Seattle NBC affiliate King 5 News. "This was much bigger than the Beast Quake in terms of the raw amplitude of shaking and it went on for a whole lot longer, of course, the Beast Quake was a moment in time, but thus far the Swifties really have Seahawks fans beat."

Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

She did, however, note on Twitter that "data from the concert may not be caused by the fans—it may be the sound system."

And while the science has spoken, fans attending Swift's Seattle shows detailed the experience inside the venue.

"I was at the Sunday performance," one user wrote on Facebook. "That stadium really shook! It definitely felt like an earthquake! The bass tone was so intense it felt like it was going through my body...sounds odd, but that's how it felt. Concerts are always loud, but this one was different."

Take a look at Swift's Eras tour and her celebrity guests:

Jessica Capshaw

The Grey's Anatomy actress attended the Eras Tour in France in May 2024, captioning this pic with the Midnights lyric, "Cause we were in Paris."

Travis Kelce & Rita Ora

"It’s fair to say Sydney always delivers," Rita Ora captioned Instagram photos from Taylor Swift's Feb. 23 show, including a snap with Travis Kelce. "Or shall we say our TayTay @taylorswift always delivers!”

Taika Waititi, Taylor Swift & Rita Ora

Taylor's dad Scott Swift delivered an epic photobomb.

Katy Perry

"Got to see an old friend shine tonight," Katy Perry captioned footage on Instagram from the Feb. 23 concert.

Tom DeLonge & Rebel Wilson

The Blink-182 rocker—whose band was playing near Taylor's Sydney venue on the same day—and the Pitch Perfect alum hung out in the VIP tent.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica captioned the moment with friends in Mexico City, "Spamming u w really good @taylorswift Eras Tour content."

Lucy Hale

The Pretty Little Liars star attended with friends Morgan Pesante, Katie Greenthal and Claire Leahy. "Omg??? @taylorswift putting on a show that was so good I can't even process," she wrote. "Nostalgic, empowering, and sparkly."

Halsey

The "Bad at Love" singer got in the spirit by making friendship bracelets to trade with fans during the last Los Angeles show.

Mariska Hargitay & Savannah Guthrie

"Still in the afterglow of the most magical night," the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star wrote on Instagram Aug. 9 after a bejeweled night out in L.A. "Deepest gratitude to @taylorswift for your poetry and wisdom. You inspire us and connect us to our #delicate tenderness, joy, hope and strength—and most of all, our wish to live and love courageously."

Chris Olsen

Sharing pics from an L.A. show, Chris Olsen quoted the T.Swift lyrics in his caption, "I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GETS BETTER THAN THIS."

Dylan Mulvaney

"Eras tour (Dylan's version)," the influencer captioned fits of her rocking a Stella McCartney outfit. "@taylorswift you are a goddess best night ever."

Spencer Pratt & Heidi Montag

The Hills stars filled a blank space in their calendar with a date night in Los Angeles at the Eras Tour. Heidi Montag captioned their pics, "This was the concert of a lifetime! Legendary! Thank you for the tickets @taylorswift."

Jessica Alba & Cash Warren

"@taylorswift with the fam," Jessica Alba wrote, "what a show!" She and husband Cash Warren celebrated their love story by taking their kids Honor, 15, and Haven, 11, and Hayes, 5.

Charlize Theron

The Mad Max star danced to "Shake It off" with her kids August and Jackson. "Thank you for the best birthday ever @taylorswift!!!" she wrote. "We had such a great f--king time."

Paula Abdul & Vince Vaughn

"What a SHOW," Paula Abdul wrote while posting for a photo with Vince Vaughn and Taylor's parents Scott and Andrea Swift in Los Angeles.

James Kennedy, Paula Abdul, Scheana Shay & Ally Lewber

The Vanderpump Rules stars made their wildest dreams come true on the floor with Paula.

Alicia Keys

The "No One singer" attended the Aug. 5 show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with her 8-year-old son Genesis.

Sofía Vergara

The actress attended one of Swift's shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics founder Anastasia Soare and her daughter, Claudia.

Vanessa Bryant

The late Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant and their daughters Natalia Bryant, 20, Bianka Bryant, 6, and Capri Bryant, 4 attended Swift's show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles Aug. 3. While performing her song "22," the singer approached Bianka at the end of the stage, hugged her and gifted her a black hat she typically gives a fan during the number. The family later got to hang out with the pop star backstage.

Lauren Conrad

The Hills alum was ready to be enchanted at the Aug. 4 show.

Max Greenfield

The New Girl star shared a family photo on TikTok ahead of the Aug. 4 show.

Elizabeth Banks & Amy Adams

The duo snapped a selfie at SoFi Stadium on the first night of the Eras Tour in Los Angeles, with Elizabeth Banks writing of Taylor's performance, "She was an Angel and a Unicorn and Pure Magic."

Sarah Paulson

Elizabeth took a pic of Sarah Paulson showing off her Eras Tour merch from the Casamigos suite.

Mindy Kaling

"The first night of the LA Eras tour was everything!" Mindy Kaling wrote after the Aug. 3 show. "@haimtheband set the tone by destroying in their home town and then @taylorswift, well, did her bejeweled thing and 70,000 of us were like 'how can we know every single lyric to 5 hours of songs?'. There were no highlights. It was all highlight."

 

Hayley Kiyoko & Becca Tilley

The couple headed to Night One of the tour in Los Angeles, with Becca captioning their look with the "Fearless" lyrics, "I know I wanna ask you to dance right there, in the middle of the parking lot."

Brie Larson

Brie Larson shared a pic from her view of the show in Los Angeles.

Lupita Nyong'o

Brie captured a video with fellow Marvel star Lupita Nyong'o.

Lauren Conrad

The Hills alum was ready for it on Aug. 4 in L.A.

Natalia Bryant

Kobe and Vanessa's 20-year-old daughter shared a hug with Taylor after the show.

Vanessa Bryant

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant paid tribute to the late basketball player with her outfit for the Aug. 3 concert.

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View More Photos From Celebrities Attending Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour
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