Earth-shaking thunder probes underground geology

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Seismologists measured the varying speeds of a ‘thunderquake’ to survey an area with little seismic activity.

A single bright lightning bolt strikes the ground beside a winding gravel road in a desert landscape

Thunderquakes — when the crash of thunder vibrates the ground — can be used for geological studies. Credit: David McNew/Getty

Crackaboom! A big thunderclap from a passing storm shakes the ground. Researchers have now found that these ‘thunderquakes’ can help to map hidden geological structures.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02596-0

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