Rumble of human activity fell by ‘unprecedented’ 50% during lockdowns, giving clearest glimpse of natural seismic noise in decades

‘Anthropause’ amid Covid-19 crisis causes good vibrations for seismologists, writes Harry Cockburn

Scientists say international lockdowns reduced seismic noise caused by humans by up to 50 per cent (Getty )

Beneath our feet the Earth is constantly rumbling. Along with the seismic activity caused by enormous tectonic events such as earthquakes and volcanoes, there is also a perpetual reverberation caused by the percussion of human activity.

But new seismic data studied by scientists reveals the impact of coronavirus lockdowns around the world reduced the human-linked earth vibrations by an “unprecedented” 50 per cent.

Scientists at the Royal Observatory of Belgium and five other institutions around the world including Imperial College London, said this quiet period, likely caused by the total global effect of social distancing measures, closure of services and industry, and drops in tourism and travel, is the longest and most pronounced quiet period of seismic noise in recorded history.