Thunderstorm acoustic waves used to map underground layers
Penn State researchers used fiber-optic cables and distributed acoustic sensing to capture seismic signals generated by thunder. They demonstrated that these thunderquakes can serve as a novel source for seismic tomography of the shallow subsurface. The work, published in Science Advances, also sheds light on how atmospheric acoustic energy transfers into the ground.
Thunderstorms generate powerful acoustic waves that travel through the air and, upon reaching the ground, transfer energy into the Earth’s surface. Penn State researchers harnessed this natural phenomenon using fiber-optic cables and distributed acoustic sensing, a technique that turns ordinary cables into dense arrays of seismic detectors. By capturing the seismic signals produced by thunder—termed “thunderquakes”—they mapped shallow underground layers with surprising clarity. The study, published in *Science Advances*, demonstrates that these atmospheric events can serve as a passive, renewable source for seismic tomography, complementing traditional artificial sources like explosives or vibrating trucks. The findings also clarify the physical process by which acoustic energy from the sky couples into the ground, offering a new window into near-surface geology without requiring active human intervention.
This work could broaden access to subsurface imaging for geotechnical surveys, groundwater studies, or infrastructure planning, particularly in regions where controlled seismic sources are costly or impractical. By using naturally occurring thunderstorms, researchers may lower barriers to monitoring shallow geology over wide areas, though reliance on weather limits timing. The technique’s success may also inspire similar passive approaches using other atmospheric or environmental noise, potentially making subsurface mapping more routine and less invasive for communities and ecosystems.