Message posted by Chris Pomfrett on May 05, 2004 at 12:52:18 PST:

Sorry if this has already been noted elsewhere, but I just saw this at the British Geological Survey website.

BGS ALERT: SONIC EVENT SCARBOROUGH AREA 25 MARCH 2004 22:23 UTC

BGS have received reports from the media that residents of the Scarborough area in North Yorkshire felt an event at approximately 22:22 UTC, last night. Reports described, “the house shook” and “windows and doors rattled”. The nearest rapid-access networks were examined and no earthquakes were detected at the time. However, a signal that is consistent with a sonic origin was observed on the nearest BGS seismometer approximately 15 km west of Scarborough. A seismogram of the event, as recorded on the BGS seismograph instrument, is contained within the attached PDF file.

The RAF was contacted and could not provide conclusive evidence of an aircraft on supersonic operations but did state that many American aircrafts were operational at the time.

BGS have also received a few enquiries from the media and residents of Cumbria and Lancashire reporting a similar experience at 22:30 UTC. The nearest rapid-access networks were examined and no earthquakes or signals of an apparent sonic origin were detected at the time. However, a signal consistent with a sonic origin was observed on the Eskdalemuir seismic array towards the north-east.

Issued 26 March 2004

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