Liverpool fans’ title celebrations caused earth tremor

Liverpool fans’ title celebrations caused earth tremor

Jenny Coleman
Reuters Mo Salah takes a selfie at Anfield with fans cheering in the stand behindReuters

Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s historic title-clinching win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield caused a series of tremors, university scientists have revealed.

Arne Slot’s side secured the club’s 20th top-flight championship defeating Tottenham 5-1 in front of a packed Anfield stadium on 27 April.

The most significant tremor was caused by Alexis Mac Allister’s strike in the 24th minute, which put Liverpool 2-1 ahead and registered a peak magnitude of 1.74 on the Richter scale.

 The University of Liverpool A chart illustrating the peak magnitude of ground data displacement after the Alexis Mac Allister goal at Anfield The University of Liverpool
EPA Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool celebrates with teammate Luis Diaz after scoring the second goal at Anfield on 27 AprilEPA

Callum Harrison, a seismologist at the British Geological Survey, said the shaking experienced by fans was measured on “very sensitive equipment”.

He said: “Seismic signals of this size have been observed at a number of concerts and sports fixtures over the past few years, including at Taylor Swift’s concerts last year.

” Whilst the energy released at these events can be comparable to a small earthquake, it is generated by the crowd jumping or dancing and not from the creation of actual earthquakes. “

The study was conducted by Dr Antoine Septier, Dr Farnaz Kamranzad, and Professor Ben Edwards from the University’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences department in partnership with the club.

” Much like natural seismic events, these goals produced bursts of ground-shaking, triggered by the sheer passion of Liverpool fans, “Professor Ben Edwards said.

 The University of Liverpool A chart illustrating ground data displacement throughout the match at Anfield The University of Liverpool

The data revealed the 60, 415-strong crowd generated real seismic activity, particularly in response to the goals scored during the game.

The second-largest tremor measured 1.60 and followed Mo Salah’s goal in front of the Kop in the second half.

 The University of Liverpool Dr Farnaz Kamranzad (L) has brown hair pulled and is wearing glasses and a black hooded top. Dr Antoine Septier (R) has short brown hair and is wearing glasses and a scarf. BOth are stood outside Anfield football stadium and smiling at the camera. The University of Liverpool

Dr Farnaz Kamranzad said that while the tremors were small and not strong enough to be felt in the stands they were powerful enough” to leave a clear and lasting mark at Anfield”.

” Every cheer, every celebration, leaves a trace beneath our feet, a seismic fingerprint of collective joy, written into the Earth’s memory long after the final whistle, “she said.

Dr Antoine Septier said he hoped the experiment would inspire a new generation of seismologists.

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Source: BBC

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