On June 24, 2019, at about 11:11 AM local time, a rigorous pulse rocked Oklahoma. It pounded like a geologic heartbeat that lasted about 10 minutes. It seemed like a ping-pong ball being thrown back and forth miles across the entire state.
The nature of the waves was pulsating indifferently which made geophysicist Jake Walter initially conclude that there was a glitch in the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) seismic device. Typically, however, the signal from system glitches result from only a single piece of equipment but on that morning, it rattled 52 stations throughout Oklahoma.
A comprehensive investigation was conducted by analyst Andrew Thiel. He found out that this occurrence was similar to a recorded signal earlier in March. The mysterious waves happened intermittently all summer with increasing frequency and intensity. In some instances, the rocking pulse lasted for 20 minutes and it always happens in the morning but never on a Sunday.
Normal earthquakes in Oklahoma come from the injection of waste fluids while processing oil and gas underneath the ground. These underground activities force the surface to suddenly shift which sends out pulses of seismic waves.
In comparison to the mysterious waves during the summertime, there were no signs of body waves. The signal also pulsed unnaturally with quick pops at an interval of about 20 seconds. In some cases, the pulses can rock up to magnitude 2.2 tremblor. The OGS investigation report yields that the strange pulses became more frequent while it spread wider coverage across the state.
Of course, this occurrence did not pass unnoticed by the public. Residents and locals reported odd noises which seemingly sounded like thumps or mini explosives. An individual even called the Oklahoma Corporation Commission that the occurrences were like quarry blasts.
The OGS called these occurrences "The Anomaly." They conducted further investigations to understand why these perplexing noises and pulses are rocking Oklahoma.
Further investigations led to the heart of the beat. The noise and pulses eminently originated from the southeast where the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant is located. In the ammunition plant, explosions, rattling windows, and showering dirt plumes are a part of their daily life.
Although the OGS team has identified the source of the strange waves, the mystery is far from over. They are still investigating how the pulses and waves have traveled so far to spread across the entirety of Oklahoma and why they changed in frequency and intensity.
There are many speculations about these occurrences, and researchers are debating about how the small blasts ended up causing tremors statewide. According to Joshua Carmichael who analyzed the data from the National Geographic, considering the geologic and atmospheric conditions in Oklahoma, slow surface waves are not impossible which may also lead to waves that can sweep far and wide.
What do you think causes such mysterious waves?
Is mother nature truly conniving with the seismic waves?
Of course, nothing is conclusive yet. Thus, the labyrinthine chase is far from over!
