@idoubtit A great #spookygeology example of pareidolia! The Durupınar formation is a natural doubly-plunging anticline of sedimentary rock near Mount Tendürek — geophysical surveys have found only rock there, no buried structure. Geology does a fine job of making its own boat shapes. ⛰️
#spookygeology — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #spookygeology, aggregated by home.social.
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Why people keep looking for Noah’s Ark in a natural rock formation in Turkey: A scholar of early Christianity explains #spookygeology
theconversation.com/why-people-k...
Why people keep looking for No... -
Why people keep looking for Noah’s Ark in a natural rock formation in Turkey: A scholar of early Christianity explains #spookygeology
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From #spookygeology: What was the explanation for the "devil's corkscrews" found in Nebraska in the late 19th century? Paleontologists would argue for almost a century about what they were. sharonahill.com/devils-corks...
Devil's Corkscrews -
Tell me again how humans aren't altering the earth.... #spookygeology The World's First Nuclear Explosion Forged an 'Impossible' Crystal : ScienceAlert www.sciencealert.com/the-worlds-f...
The World's First Nuclear Expl... -
Tell me again how humans aren't altering the earth.... #spookygeology The World's First Nuclear Explosion Forged an 'Impossible' Crystal : ScienceAlert www.sciencealert.com/the-worlds-f...
The World's First Nuclear Expl... -
Cave diving is crazy dangerous. #spookygeology Maldives military diver dies searching for bodies of 4 Italians in an underwater cave: spokesman | AP News apnews.com/article/ital...
Maldives military diver dies s... -
Cave diving is crazy dangerous. #spookygeology Maldives military diver dies searching for bodies of 4 Italians in an underwater cave: spokesman | AP News apnews.com/article/ital...
Maldives military diver dies s... -
Look out for the quicksand in Utah. #spookygeology www.accuweather.com/en/leisure-r...
'Quicksand alert' issued at Na... -
We should be looking to the ionosphere for electrical signals from large faults about to rupture, and watching the atmosphere for tsunami signals. The land and atmosphere are connected. #spookygeology www.bbc.com/future/artic...
'It sounded kind of crazy': Ho... -
A classic old timey fear. #spookygeology Trapped in Quicksand – Sharon A. Hill sharonahill.com/trapped-in-q...
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New #SpookyGeology + #cryptids Spooky seismic lakes – sag ponds and monsters – Sharon A. Hill sharonahill.com/spooky-seism...
Spooky seismic lakes – sag pon... -
I'm working on a cool #spookygeology and #cryptid crossover article that should put an end to a frequently repeated excuse for one of the world's most popular monsters. (But it won't, because such things, even bad science, doesn't die so easily.)
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Eternal Flames
I’ve posted a new video on natural gas “eternal flames”. This video features info about the Darvaza “gate to hell” crater, which I previously wrote about for Spooky Geology, and new content related to the Eternal Flame falls in New York. I visited the falls in June 2025 and did research on how and why the flame exists. The Darvaza section contains new information about how the Turkmenistan government is aiming to extinguish the crater.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7lhn4Lp4UU
#ChestnutRidgePark #Darvaza #Derweze #EternalFlame #EternalFlameFallsPark #gateToHell #geology #NewYork #SpookyGeology #spookyScience
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The East Haddam Connecticut museum now has an exhibit and a seismograph to highlight the Moodus noises! I love this so much. See what I wrote about Machimoodus and the noises when I visited a few years ago. #spookygeology #Fortean sharonahill.com/moodus-the-p...
Moodus: The Place of Bad Noise... -
The East Haddam Connecticut museum now has an exhibit and a seismograph to highlight the Moodus noises! I love this so much. See what I wrote about Machimoodus and the noises when I visited a few years ago. #spookygeology #Fortean sharonahill.com/moodus-the-p...
Moodus: The Place of Bad Noise... -
Japan tries to rescue man stuck in sinkhole. Here's what's going on. | AP News #spookygeology apnews.com/article/japa...
Japan tries to rescue man stuc... -
You may have seen this story circulating. But a new paper fails to connect Summerville spook light to earthquakes #spookygeology #spookyscience #geology #earthquake sharonahill.com/new-paper-fa...
New paper fails to connect Sum... -
I didn't agree with the recent paper (thanks @spookyscipod.bsky.social) about the Summerville and Maco spook lights possibly being #earthquake lights. #spookygeology Here's why: sharonahill.com/new-paper-fa...
New paper fails to connect Sum... -
I did not agree with the Hough paper that attempted to link spook lights with earthquake lights. Here's why. #spookygeology #earthquakelights #seismology #folklore #ghosts sharonahill.com/new-paper-fa...
New paper fails to connect Sum... -
I did not agree with the Hough paper that attempted to link spook lights with earthquake lights. Here's why. #spookygeology #earthquakelights #seismology #folklore #ghosts sharonahill.com/new-paper-fa...
New paper fails to connect Sum... -
Rare pterosaur fossil reveals crocodilian bite 76m years ago | ScienceDaily #spookyGeology www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
Rare pterosaur fossil reveals ... -
A meteor falls in Pennsylvania, and lands in ice cream
A rock hit a car in a Walmart parking lot in Lehighton, PA in 2023, busting the window and landing in a half gallon of ice cream. A group of open-minded scientists agreed to take the case and identified the rock as a genuine meteorite.
If any of your friends, family, or neighbors who know you are geologist find a weird looking rock, they will ask you if it’s a meteorite. Because they really want it to be one. Even if you say, “No, it’s not,” they will often not accept your answer. I have had this happen to me. Usually, the rock is a piece of slag which is very common around former industrial areas in Pennsylvania. It looks burned and weird and it may be just hanging out there on the ground by itself.
Only eight meteorites are verified as landed in PA (ironically published by authors Stone and Starr, 1932). It appears now there is a ninth. And this one is an exceedingly rare and interesting tale.
Pennsylvania Geology Winter 2024 edition told me a story I hadn’t heard. By the end of the26-pagee article, now I know why. Here is an excerpt:
On May 17, 2023, at approximately 4:05 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, a rock smashed through the
rear window of a parked vehicle in Carbon County, Pa., landing in a 1.5-quart (1.41-liter) container of
Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream. As it smashed through the window, it passed through a decal that had been placed on the outside of the rear window in memory of a grandson who had been killed by a drunk driver, the safety glass of the window itself, and a tinted film on the inside of the window.The location was a Walmart lot in Lehighton, PA. The man and his wife put the groceries in the car, got in, and the window smashed. I can only imagine the terror of this event to the occupants. Thankfully, neither was hurt. Police investigated it as a case of vandalism, temporarily keeping the 1.5 x 2.5 inch rock. No other fragments were found.
Examining security camera footage, police saw the rock hit at high speed, but were unable to see any hint that it was thrown by a person. The footage did show a smoky trail in the sky and there had been a meteor shower occurring. The police suspected it might be a meteorite, even though it is extraordinarily rare to be hit by one. With obvious sources (like fly rock or trucks) seemingly eliminated, the vehicle owner kept the rock and “contacted several prominent institutions” to request identification. All turned down the option to test the rock except for the Pennsylvania State Museum (under the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission), who, in turn, contacted the authors of the PA Geology paper, retired members of the PA Bureau of Geological Survey. It’s all about who you know!
The three authors of the paper had some experience in testing suspected meteorites, which they called “meteorwrongs” because none were the real deal. The rest of the paper is a fairly easy-to-follow chronicle of all the careful cutting, polishing and testing that they did with the help of other experts. This included dealing with the contamination of the impact (through the car window decal and the ice cream), and possible contamination from the tools and equipment for testing, while trying to use as little of the sample as possible. The mineralogy was examined – the outer crust and internal composition tested separately.
The “stony” rock was magnetic but did not look like the shiny black metallic meteorites commonly known. Instead, it was consistent with a mineral assemblage of a metamorphosed ultramafic rock – a type of rock that is usually formed in the earth’s mantle – but in this case was likely created as the residue left behind after a host rock partially melts, leaving a nickel-iron metal rock rich in silica via a green mineral named olivine. The samples were sent to a lab in Canada for further testing, confirming the rock was an achondrite (classification of meteorite) that had a multi-stage history.
This was only a preliminary investigation. It is not disclosed what the owner chose to do with the rest of the sample. The total mass was 117.6 g with 23.5 g donated to the State Museum of Pennsylvania for nondestructive study and analysis, and for preservation. Additional study of the sample could lead to a greater understanding of the origin of our solar system.
I do wonder if the couple saw in this event a metaphorical message from their deceased Grandson, whom they obviously loved very much. It’s such a cool story.
Source
The “Ice Cream Drop” Meteorite
Robert C. Smith, II, John H. Barnes, James T. Herbstritt
Pennsylvania Geology 54:4 PDF#carHitByMeteorite #meteor #meteorite #Pennsylvania #SpookyGeology
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I haven't posted a #spookyGeology link in a while -- here's one of my favorites. Bottomless holes. sharonahill.com/legends-and-...
Legends and science of bottoml... -
A thoughtful, 18 minute treatment of leylines. (The title is deceptive, so ignore that.) The Dangerous Truth About Ley Lines - YouTube #spookyGeology www.youtube.com/watch?v=_025...
The Dangerous Truth About Ley ... -
Nationwide Hexham Heads report: Lost footage found in BBC archive - BBC Considerable mention of #spookygeology topic of the Stone Tape theory. www.bbc.com/articles/cdx...
Nationwide Hexham Heads report... -
Earthquake Lights Revisited – More Evidence Emerging
One of the most productive topics under my umbrella of Spooky Geology has been that of Earthquake Lights (EQLs). I began researching the best evidence for strange and doubtful earthquake precursors in 2006 and have followed the subject since then. In 2018, I produced my major writeup of relevant facts and opinions on the matter and have commented on EQLs in popular culture in additional pieces.
Capturing evidence is difficult
Five more recent journal papers (from 2019 to 2024) on the topic show that there is progress being made in examining EQLs with interesting results. Most of the evidence still remains anecdotal, which is the worst kind of scientific evidence, but the new research documents additional data that will undoubtedly change the way we think of earthquakes as part of an Earth system.
We are in the age of digital technology, with ubiquitous personal recording devices. Not only are people recording around them during quakes but outward facing devices are continually surveilling the outdoors. We should see more evidence of anomalies captured. Mostly, what has been recorded are the blue-white flashes that take place during the quakes, which I’ve discussed in several previous posts. There have also been images of rainbow clouds, glowing sky, and balls of light that may be associated with the event. Still, the results are not great and the concept remains questionable to seismologists.
As I described in previous pieces, it’s difficult to capture changes in the pre-quake environment. Earthquakes happen all over the world and in indeterminate time frames. To set up observations for EQLs and associated precursors, the scale and scope are huge. There are multiple variables that would need to be measured, and coverage in time and space must be adequate. Even in areas of known seismic activity, this will be very expensive and may not get the intended results.
There had always been inadvertent data collection that raised showed anomalies and raised questions. It is well-known that, in some areas, radon levels elevate in response to the time where the fault is “preparing” to let loose, when the rock is undergoing microfracturing. However, not all faults will produce the same, or any, precursors – each seismic event is unique, even on the same fault. Traditional research in seismology has focused on mechanical observations like ground deformation and prior events. Are seismologists looking in the wrong place? A relatively new concept of a interactive electrical earth system suggests this may be so.
Watching the ionosphere
The five articles I examined (in the References below) discuss the connection between seismic activity and the ionosphere. While it seems strange to find evidence for earthquake activity in the upper reaches of the atmosphere (where the aurora displays), in the last few decades, evidence is mounting for the lithospheric-atmospheric-ionospheric coupling model or LAIC. This model assumes that processes which happen when rock in the earth’s crust is stressed create electrical signals exhibited in the atmosphere. The seismo-electromagnetic phenomenon may be show up as anomalous electrical signals, magnetic field changes, ground temperature variations, atmospheric changes, and luminous phenomenon such as EQLs.
The ionosphere is the outer reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere.In the crustal lithosphere – the location of the earth’s tectonic plates – pressure during the lead up to fault slip causes microfracturing in the rock. Radon and other gases are released and migrate through fractures and the fault area. Electric currents may also be generated. Different models of how this might work are proposed. Some researches focus on the freed (radioactive) radon that generates ionized air (positive and negative ions). Others propose that negative charges in the fracturing rock induce positive charges to collect at ground level. Localized ionization can increase water vapor condensation and variation in conductivity, and may potentially explain pre-earthquake anomalies such as “earthquake weather”, odd animal and plant behavior, electromagnetic anomalies, glowing ground, strange clouds, etc. Because the atmosphere is dynamic, the effects may rapidly appear or disappear. In the electromagnetic fault model, the ground and the atmosphere interact to produce EQLs of various types or odd clouds.
No layer of the Earth exists in isolation. It is not unreasonable to assume that a large energy event such as a major earthquake would show signals revealed in our earth system. The interactive model of effects contend that the electrical effects propagate into the atmosphere to the ionosphere where they are best observed via satellite. The French satellite DEMETER (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from EQ Regions) operated between 2004 and 2010 specifically to detect electromagnetic phenomena related to quakes and volcanic eruptions. The DEMETER observed significant disturbances in the ionosphere 5 days before the Wenchuan/Sichuan, China earthquake of 2008. The deviation in ion density was observed within 200km of the epicenter. Chinese scientists established a monitoring station in the Sichuan province called MVP-LAI to assess the complex interactions for the future.
I must stress that the relationship between ionospheric anomalies and earthquakes is highly debated. Some previous studies were weak and are refuted. There is difficulty in using satellite observations. Geomagnetic disturbances and meteorological events will interfere with any effects coming from a quake. The proposal that these signals might be used as a warning of a coming quake days or even months ahead creates serious problems with prediction and social ramifications. They remain unreliable, but the ideas are very intriguing and the data is accumulating.
Examples
For various examples of EQLs and anomalies, see my previous article that details the observances in Saguenay, Canada (1988), Matsushiro, Japan (1968) and several other examples include the rainbow cloud from Sichuan 2008. More about this phenomenon has come to light since then.
Sichuan/Wenchuan 12 May 2008
Screen capture from video taken over 400 km from the Sichuan 2008 quake.
In addition to the DEMETER data, this quake is associated with the infamous “rainbow cloud” that was seen and photographed within several hundred km from the epicenter 10-60 minutes before the quake. Enomoto (2024) concludes this was not the common optical phenomenon known as a circumhorizon arc because it was not localized and was not at the correct angle of the sun. He suggests that it was a different type of light dispersion related to an atmospheric electrical anomaly. The total electron content (TEC) in the atmosphere was noted to increase above the epicenter 37 minutes prior.Fukushima-oki Japan, 13 February 2021
Multiple parameters were observed by researchers, but the most convincing, according to authors Hayakawa and Hobara (2024), were the ultra and extremely low frequency (ULF/ELF) radio waves that they observed about 1 week prior to the quake, up to the day of the quake. See more below on the second Fukushima event in 2022 that produced flashes.Kobe, Japan 1995
From Enomoto, 2024. Model explaining the change in color of the clouds as a result of radon ionization emitted from the fault.
Luminous clouds were observed an hour before and 27 minutes after this quake accompanied by pulsed radio emissions. The clouds were described “like a fire breathing dragon” by a photographer. The quake area also was host to an unusual spiral cloud eight days prior. A fisherman reported to Enomoto that he observed electric sparks at ground level. Later, Enomoto discovered that a portion of ground area along the fault had been blackened and the grass charred. After analyzing the fault gouge material, and conducting experiments, he concluded that the clay minerals in the fault zone had been subject to a significant current discharge, altering the material that was not found elsewhere. This was published in a separate paper with others in 2001 (noted in my previous post). The Kobe area has a belt of granite that hosts numerous radon springs. Enomoto suggests that released water vapor can carry radon or methane upwards out of the fault area into the atmosphere.Japan’s historical quakes
Enomoto’s 2024 study looked at a historical list of 872 quakes in Japan and found that 9% of damaging quakes had some mention of EQLs. He took a closer look at 21 of these quakes, including the Kobe even, concluding that the interaction of earth layers are the probable cause of the anomalies, and that it might be possible to predict quakes based on this signals. Some of the other examples mentioned in the historical records include soundless lightning or flashes on a sunny day in various quakes whereby he surmises that an electrical anomaly different than lightning was occurring. Additionally, there were reports of more intense lightning strikes during bad weather associated with quakes. Methane may be implicated in some manifestation of EQLs as the gas could be ignited by frictional heat or static electricity as its emitted from the ground. Methane hydrate eruptions triggered by underwater landslides could appear as glowing seas and pillars of fire off the coast. Reports of these phenomena differ from luminescence produced by phosphorescent organisms.The Enomoto paper is readable and contains helpful illustrations and diagrams. I recommend checking it out. I would like to share more of the interesting examples in that paper but this post is extensive enough.
Flashes
I have detailed in other posts tagged as “earthquake lights” the obvious misidentification of flashes during a quake. There are definitely flashes that are attributable to transformer explosions and electric arcing from downed wires. Here is an example of that happening during shaking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65aE8JiPL0
Previously, I held the opinion that all such blue-white flashes filmed at night during quakes were attributable to the electricity distribution network, even though they are now frequently called EQLs by the media. That view has been shaken a bit by the paper by Xie, et al. (2023) related to the Fukushima earthquake of 16 March 2022. During the shaking, a flash burst out from the surface at the Sendai city and airport area. This was captured on two different cameras with one camera capturing two flashes close to each other while the second camera was interrupted so only one was caught. Using the overlap zone of two cameras, the position of the flash area was estimated. Here is the zinger that caught my attention:
“[W]e also collected maintenance reports on electrical facilities after the shock to rule out the possibility of the flashes being caused by explosions in transformers or power supply facilities. The reports on the locations of the malfunctioning power stations showed that some of the power stations along Sendai’s eastern coast did malfunction, but they were far away from where the EQLs appeared in the inland region”.
The authors conclude that the flash was caused by electrical current from the rock and a horizontal magnetic field disturbance. It does not appear to be related to the electricity distribution network.
Here is a video showing various instances of lights seen in the sky during the quake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Ma0nkCqis
This is certainly not definitive to say that flashes seen during quakes are EQLs, but it opens the potential that some are. It could be that the blue-white flashes of wires and transformers may produce a similar visual effect as the much rarer EQLs. There is a problem with confirming this conclusion as one would have to be able to document all flashes and match these with utility failures in order to discard those causes. It would be ideal if cameras could capture a flash in a precise location up close to confirm a natural cause. That has not yet happened.
In conclusion, the continuing research into the LAIC and electro-seismic models, notably in China and Japan, is exciting. They consider that observations of atmospheric anomalies are genuine and explainable, not discounted as mistakes or exaggerations. There is an inherent unreliability in eyewitness reports. But, I do think that the difference in tectonic regimes between the US and Asia can result in dismissal of the historical evidence about atmospheric earthquake anomalies. We simply don’t have the same range of seismic incidents, in large cities, that occur in those places. In the not so distant future, we may see greater acceptance of strange reports associated with earthquakes taken seriously as the weight of the evidence and a reasonable mechanism to explain them has won over the scientific community. It looks like serious investigation into the potential explanations for EQLs will continue.
References
Chen, H.; Han, P.; Hattori, K. Recent Advances and Challenges in the Seismo-Electromagnetic Study: A Brief Review. Remote Sens. 2022, 14, 5893. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225893
De Santis A, Abbattista C, Alfonsi L, Amoruso L, Campuzano SA, Carbone M, Cesaroni C, Cianchini G, De Franceschi G, De Santis A, Di Giovambattista R, Marchetti D, Martino L, Perrone L, Piscini A, Rainone ML, Soldani M, Spogli L, Santoro F. Geosystemics View of Earthquakes. Entropy (Basel). 2019 Apr 18;21(4):412. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7514901/
Enomoto, Y. Earthquake Lights Observed in Japan—Possible Underlying Mechanisms. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 916. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15080916
Hayakawa, M.; Hobara, Y. Integrated Analysis of Multi- Parameter Precursors to the Fukushima Offshore Earthquake (Mj = 7.3) on 13 February 2021 and Lithosphere–Atmosphere– Ionosphere Coupling Channels. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 1015. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15081015
Xie, B.; Wu, L.; Mao, W.; Wang, Z.; Sun, L.; Xu, Y. Horizontal Magnetic Anomaly Accompanying the Co-Seismic Earthquake Light of the M7.3 Fukushima Earthquake of 16 March 2022: Phenomenon and Mechanism. Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 5052. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15205052
#Anomalies #earthquakeLights #earthquakePrecursors #EQL #ionosphere #LAIC #luminousPhenomena #mysteriousLights #rainbowCloud #skyFlashes #SpookyGeology
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1/n
bringing back the "if ghosts of fossil life forms were real" thread:Paleontologists would start an iNaturalist-like site where interested folk of all knowledge levels could report and upload possible fossil ghost sounds, ranging from the strange keening songs of the first Devonian insects to the rumblings of Mesozoic sauropods to the mysterious tick-tick-ticks of strange Paleozoic invertebrates.
#Sauropods
#SauropodSunday
#fossils
#Ghosts
#PaleoSpeculation
#HalloweenEve
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Listen: In Research Of… San Andreas
Please give a listen to one of my (very few) favorite podcasts, where I join Jeb and Blake to go In Research Of… of the science and depictions of earthquake information in the 1979 episode of In Search Of… San Andreas with Leonard Nimoy. A bonus is a parade of musings on the disaster movies related to earthquakes in California.
https://inresearchof.libsyn.com/s04e14-san-andreas-fault-explicit
As part of this episode, we remark on how terms related to the geology sound oh-so-very dirty. I had never even considered this before, but, yeah…
Also, so many puns – not my fault.
I’ve appeared on IRO before, including an earlier episode on Earthquakes, but also:
Do you remember this episode? Watch it here on YouTube.
It wasn’t the typical paranormal content we usually think of when we remember ISO. Many episodes were straight science that was in the news at the time.
Courtesy of Blake, here’s a special ‘gif’T from the Universal movie Earthquake! (1974). This was the big year for disaster films, we suspect they ran out of money by the time they had to fix this scene.
More on Earthquakes and related phenomena.
#California #earthquake #popCulture #seismology #SpookyGeology
https://sharonahill.com/?p=8651
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Rapid deep freeze can lead to frost quakes
It’s been awfully cold in many parts of the US this week. As I tried to ignore the wicked wind outside, I thought, hmm, this is frost quake season. Sure enough, the Chicago area, hit hard by an Arctic air blast, reported frost quakes this week.
Frost quakes cause localized noise and shaking
Most people have never heard of frost quakes (sometimes called cryoseisms, although this normally refers to cracking of lake and sea ice). New scientific observations suggest that populations in regions prone to frigid winter temperatures will experience them more often. So, now is the time to get up to speed on this icy topic of spooky geology.
Frost quakes are one cause for mysterious booms and shaking heard by northern residents who are not used to earthquakes. They are not uncommon in the upper Midwest and New England, from January to March. Caused by the rapid expansion of water (thermal stress) as it freezes underground, the energy from the expansion releases suddenly, creating a cracking or booming sound, breaking rock layers, fracturing roads, and ripping tree roots.
Frost quakes are more likely to occur where the ground is saturated (after heavy rains or having a high groundwater table) and when rapid freezing occurs – when the temperatures drop to far below freezing over 8 hours.
Frost quakes are not deadly
Frost quake events are very localized and short-lived, however, if the explosive expansion happens near homes or structures, there is the chance that the shaking can cause moderate damage similar to small earthquakes. Frost quakes cannot create shaking and damage to the extent that a geologic quake can, but ground fractures and heaves can damage foundations, land surfaces, and roads. Frost tremors, which have more irregular waveforms, are less violent expressions of the stress release.
Tabloid headline suggests that frost quakes are related to deaths due to dangerous low temps. It was not the quakes that killed people.Lessons from Finland
Finland seems to be particularly susceptible to frost quakes. In January 2023, the Finnish town of Talvikangas experienced 26 frost quakes in 7 hrs, the greatest number recorded so far. A recent study from Finland will soon be published showing that wetlands, swamps, and irrigated areas, will more likely experience frost quakes.
- Frost quakes are a growing problem in Finland and other sub-Arctic countries
- Frost Quakes Shake Up Finland’s Wetlands
Frost quakes are typically associated with lack of snow cover. Snow provides some insulation against the rapid freezing that creates the stress leading to the sudden release. Climate change suggests that greater rainfall and less snow will be the trend in northern areas. The reduction in Arctic ice creates a destabilization of the Jetstream that allows frigid air masses to dip south, resulting in the cold zap like we got this month.
As the Finnish study showed, we would be wise to take frost quakes more seriously, as their occurrences may be increasing. Certain structures (utility lines, roads, water towers, power generating facilities, bridges, etc.) should be evaluated for risk from frost quakes even though they are outside typical fault-related seismic risk zones.
More: History of mystery booms
#arctic #coldWeather #cryoseism #earthquake #frostQuake #mysteryBoom #MysteryBooms #seismic #SpookyGeology #winter
https://sharonahill.com/?p=8376
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Blowholes and a dragon’s nose
There is nothing better than when two of my favorite subjects collide. When I was scrolling #cryptidtok, I came across a video of a hole in the ground that aggressively releases air. The environment and shape of the hole make it appear as if it is the nostril of a dragon.
A man throws a light piece of cloth into the hole and in a few seconds, the cloth is expelled with force in a cloud of mist. It’s a pretty neat display. Is it real? Yes, probably. Is it a dragon’s breath? Naw. I sure hope the commenters on the video are just having fun, but I would not be surprised if many were that gullible.
The video, dated August of 2023, is cropped tightly so we can’t see the surroundings. The man to the right appears to be in clothing from Pakistan or Iran. (I’m guessing, but this is almost certainly not taken in the Western Hemisphere.)
I would bet that this is a cave opening that is connected to the sea at a lower elevation, creating a blowhole.
As the ocean tide rolls in, the water pushes the air through the cave passages and releases it through a chimney-like hole. In this video, it’s hard to say if the cloud expelled with the cloth is remnant water spray or just air at a different temperature and humidity. For example, if the air in the ground is moist and warm, the moisture expelled will condense in cooler, dry air.
Blowhole on land. By AlphaZeta – Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15809639If I’m guessing correctly, the video would have been easy to make on a cool morning when the tide is strong. The regular waves would have made the blowing air quite regular.
It could also be a dry blowhole created due to pressure differences. However, the air seems to be expelled in bursts here, lending more credence to the tidal explanation.
Other guesses in the TikTok comments include dragons, of course, but also jinns, and geysers. Not sure why a jinn would be so rude, but the characteristics are not like most geysers. It’s too short, and it better matches the tidal explanation for a blowhole.
Do you know the story of the real cave dragons? Olms.
Famous blowholes around the world are typically close enough to the ocean that the water sprays up out of them. Hawaii has a lot of them, related to lava caves. One of the largest blowholes is La Bufadora. The legend of this blowhole in Punta Banda, Mexico tells of a giant whale stranded on the rocks trying to signal its pod, only to eventually turn to stone.
I was able to find a few other sites around the world where small blowholes were also called dragon’s nostrils because it’s such a creative way to describe it.
This video is great.
Dragon’s Nostril, Oahu, Hawaii.I did spend a good bit of time trying to track down details on the TikTok video and a possible location. But I didn’t get anywhere. If anyone knows, please comment.
#blowhole #cryptid #cryptidtok #dragon #dragonSNose #dragonSNostril #SpookyGeology #tiktok
https://sharonahill.com/?p=8267
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Wrath of Pele
Originally published May 2018.
In 2018 Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, put on a big show with activity at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater had been active since 1983, making it the world’s longest continuously erupting volcano. In quick succession in the first week of May 2018, the lake of lava drained from the top of Kilauea volcano and new fissures opened to the east, emitting dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. Then, effusive fountains of lava spewed up to 330 feet high.
“Volcanoes give us warning when they’re about to do something,” [Tari] Mattox said. The emptying of the Puu Oo crater’s lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface. [Source]
Residents nearby were urged to evacuate. Increased earthquakes indicated movement of molten rock towards the surface. A large quake measuring magnitude 6.9 occurred on May 4 caused landslides and small tsunamis. The magma had already reached the surface of the East Rift Zone on May 3 in what was the neighborhood called Leilani Estates. Over two dozen homes have been destroyed so far and lava flows are rendering the area increasingly inaccessible. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have closed the park to visitors. Visiting the eruption area is highly discouraged as crews work to ensure public safety. Currently, the gas emissions are the main problem, as the fumes prevent crews from entering areas and may inhibit rescue attempts.
From Hawaii News Now:
Sam Knox, also of Leilani Estates, said all he can do as he waits to hear if his home will survive is appeal to a higher power.
“If there’s a God out there maybe he can help us out,” he said, adding that seeing the lava soaring into the sky into his own neighborhood was surreal. “It was incredible. It was fuming. It was roaring. It was thundering. Rocks were flying out of the ground,” he said.From the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory:
A fissure about 150 m (492 ft) long erupted mostly spatter and intermittent bubble bursts for about 2 hours. Lava did not travel more than a few m (yards) from the fissure. Hawaii County Civil Defense is coordinating needed response including evacuation of a portion of the Leilani subdivision. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed geologists to the eruption site overnight, and other scientists are monitoring various data streams telemetered to the observatory 24/7.
The lava eruptions may continue for days or weeks, perhaps longer, as new basalt rock obliterates the old landscape, and the island grows. Even though some fissures may cease emission of lava, other new fissures can open. Some residents believe it was Pele’s doing, reclaiming her land.
“The way I kind of look at it is, the land doesn’t really belong to us. It belongs to Pele,” [Jordan] Sonner said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “We get to live on it while we can, and if she wants it back, she’ll take it. I have good insurance.”[Source]
The legend of Pele is relatively well known even outside of Hawaii. Her story, told before we had any understanding of geology, traces the age of the islands from north (Kure Atoll) to south (Hawaii island) as the earth’s plates move over the hot spot that creates vulcanism in this famous tropical paradise. The stories about Pele and her family are rich – I cannot adequately reproduce their depth and variety here. In short, Pele was the daughter of the gods but was mortal. She fought with her sister, Namakaokaha‘i who represents the ocean, where Pele is the land. When the two sisters battled, it created explosions and Pele was torn apart, just like when molten rock meets water. Upon her death, Pele became a god and her spirit eventually took up residence on Hawaii island, at the summit of Kilauea, Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Pele is said to have become impatient at times with her brothers and sisters. Then she would destroy their pleasure resorts in the valleys. She would send a flood of lava in her anger and burn everything up. Earthquakes came when Pele stamped the floor of the fire-pit in anger. Flames thrusting themselves through cracks in a breaking lava crust were the fire spears of Pele’s household of au-makuas or ghost-gods. [Source]
There are several more modern legends of Pele. One is that she disapproves of tourists removing parts of the island. Taking pieces of lava rock from the island is discouraged as bad luck will follow you home. Many people who disregard the tale eventually come to believe they have been cursed by their rashness and mail back the rocks to the island.
Another local legend is that Pele appears in human form as a young beautiful woman or an elderly lady in need of assistance. Often, she is accompanied by a dog (solid white or black). If you attempt to help her, you will be rewarded. If you ignore her or are unkind, she will seek revenge. Lately, many people may be wondering who disrespected Pele to spark the current evidence of her anger.
Hawaii island is the only active surface volcanic area in the state. Loihi is a seamount that is growing but will remain submerged off the coast of the island for thousands of years.
We should be grateful to the scientists who risk their lives measuring the pulse of Kilauea and several other volcanoes to warn the rest of us of dangerous hazards.
Pele’s Hair and Tears
As molten rock flies through the air, it forms into substances known as Pele’s hair and tears.
Pele’s hair – Natural History Museum, LondonSo-called Pele’s hair, named after the Goddess of Fire who inhabits Kilauea volcano, is vitrified lava, or threads of glass, that looks very much like golden hair. Millimeters in thickness but sometimes very long, they are lightweight and carried by the wind. Strands of the “hair” blown in the wind collect in clumps on the ground or in vegetation. The fine threads are formed when bubbles of lava burst, blown hot into the wind to stretch and cool. The substance can be found in relation to lava fountains in Hawaii and in Iceland where it’s also called Nornahár meaning Witch’s Hair.
Pele’s hair collects on an antenna (Wikimedia Commons) 2012, Hawaii island. Large swaths of hair collect along a road.Like asbestos and fiberglass (which is what this, essentially, is), these fibers are also hazardous if inhaled and irritating if rubbed into eyes or skin.
The current eruption of Kilauea is producing “hair”. From HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 7:45 AM HST:Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are being transported downwind and falling to the west of the fissure. On Monday night, there were reports of Pele’s hair falling in Pāhoa. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Drops of molten lava in a spray instantly cool to form tapered black drops of glass called achneliths or Pele’s tears. The “tear” may often be found at the end of a “hair” as the tail is spun from the trail of liquid in motion. Glass has no crystal structure as it solidifies too quickly. Because of the quick freeze, geologists can use the hair and tears to tell something about the magma from the eruption. The shape of the tears can provide an indication of the velocity of the eruption.
As the blobs of lava get bigger, the tears become “bombs” which can damage structures and even cause injury and death as the outside cools but the core remains molten.
“Tears” or tiny cooled drops of volcanic glass.#Hawaii #Kilauea #Pele #PeleSHair #PeleSTears #SpookyGeology #volcanoes
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Paranormal Vortex Areas
It’s a common claim by paranormalists that there are special places on earth where “energy” whirls are responsible for strange phenomena reported at those locations. They are called paranormal or energy “vortex” areas. The crystallization of the “vortex” idea in this context began with a popular proponent of mysterious subjects who identified twelve equidistant areas around the globe with peculiar characteristics. Since then, the idea of a paranormal vortex has evolved. The term became flexible enough to be employed as the cause of localized anomalies, to “explain” areas of unusual natural or historical features, and to label places heavily laden with reports of “high strangeness”.
If you look up the word “vortex” in the metaphysical context (that is, not the actual scientific definition based on fluid dynamics), you will find it used in association with places like Sedona, Arizona, and areas where there is a concentration of reports of paranormal phenomena. These vortices (or vortexes) can be considered good or bad but the premise is that the vortex area is unusual in some way – it is a location of exceptional “energy” drawn from the earth. Some writers will go so far as to say these are areas where “known laws of physics don’t apply” or where the connection to the spirit world or other dimensions can be accessed.
In a scientific framework, such areas of unusual energy could be measured and documented. But it is not so at these energy vortex locations. The effect is measured only in subjective human feelings or interpretation of observations, making the case for paranormal vortex areas entirely unscientific. The upwards or downwards swirling “energy” can be felt or used as a convenient ploy to explain areas of transcendence or high strangeness.
Ivan T. Sanderson’s Vile Vortices
The origin of paranormal vortex areas was not exactly scientific, but it was made to appear so. It was fortuitous and coincidental and then fitted to look precise. In 1968, Ivan T. Sanderson, a popular and influential writer about mysterious phenomena proposed the idea that there were 12 tilted oval areas located equidistantly around the globe – ten of which were along defined latitudes north and south of the equator and an additional two at the poles. The locations corresponded to points of the earth’s surface on a grid. The vortex areas were located on the vertices of an icosahedron (a 20-faced polyhedron). Therefore, we find a tie-in with the concept of sacred geometry of the earth – a mathematical means of showing design in the earth’s features. (That’s a tangent to be examined at another time.)
Originally labeled as areas of collected anomalies, Sanderson called these twelve spots “Vile Vortices”. The impetus for the mapping of these areas, according to Sanderson, was his research into what he believed were unexplained plane and ship disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic and the “Devil’s Sea” area in the Pacific. Both areas fell along the 36 deg north latitude.
Vile vortex speculative locationsSanderson seemed to have some help in further examination of these latitudes that resulted in identifying other sites where “funny things happen”. The oval shapes or “lozenges” trended southwest-northeast at exactly 72 degrees apart latitudinally (5 steps of 72 degrees = 360). That seemed like a pretty spooky fit! With the help of other researchers who did things like stick skewers through a model globe, Sanderson, et al. identified a band in the southern hemisphere at 36 degrees south latitude where notable locations also appeared 72 degrees apart, but on a 23.5-degree latitude shift. These other areas in the Southern Hemisphere included Easter Islands and the South Atlantic Anomaly.
Sanderson played up his evidence in a television appearance and in articles and books, continuing to update the idea for several years. The vile vortices concept was connected to dangerous, perplexing powers of the earth that manifested in precise locations.
Critical problems surfaced immediately with Sanderson’s idea. Firstly, the locations on the mathematically tidy map didn’t line up with the perceived anomalies that supposedly defined them. The locations of these vile vortices eventually meandered and became less exact. Later, some paranormalists asserted that the perimeters of the spooky areas would wax and wane, and maybe even wander, under the influence of ambiguous forces. Secondly, with only moderate effort, one can discover that there is nothing particularly unusual about these places and that the mysteries were enhanced or outright manufactured.
Sanderson even admitted that the effect in the Bermuda Triangle, his key vortex feature, was “weak” because many planes and ships pass through daily without incident. Fishing boats in both the Bermuda and Dragon’s Triangle – the dramatic name for the Devil’s Sea area off the coast of Japan – certainly experienced occasional and unsurprising trouble due to mechanical failure, waves, and storms, just like sea-going vessels everywhere, but those mundane causes were downplayed or ignored.
Any weirdness that was rumored to be caused by vile vortex energy in the mid to late 20th century dissolved when more rational investigation and statistics were applied. Notably, the mysterious hazards supposedly apparent around the devil’s triangles of the Atlantic and Pacific were never acknowledged by the officials from either the US or Japan.
Grid of proposed vortex areasLey lines
Related, but somewhat separate from an earth grid is the idea of lines of energy lines called “leys”. (See Leylines: From the Old Straight Track to the Ghostbuster Vortex for a background on leys.) If one accepts that leys exist and that mysterious earth energy flows through them, it seems reasonable to subsequently conclude that where ley lines intersected (a “node”), some “funny things” might happen. The energy could, supposedly, amplify and swirl into a vortex. Following the maxims of pop cultural exchange, it’s unsurprising that paranormalists would find the mysterious energy vortices interesting. Leys became associated with providing energy for paranormal manifestation of all kinds – ghosts, sacred areas, healing places, UFO highways, etc. Because leys weren’t limited to certain nexus points on a grid, they could be “discovered” everywhere. And wherever these lines crossed, that area might be deemed a vortex.
Sounds Sciencey
Describing the cause of strange phenomena as an energy vortex sounded very “sciencey”. Terms like magnetism and electromagnetic energy were used to define the forces. The term “energy” is widely misused by paranormalists because it sounds impressive. Vortex areas are said to “hold more energy” or have an “upward flow of energy”. With the exception of areas of natural geomagnetic or gravity anomalies that could be readily explained, vortex proponents downplayed the fact that there were no documented anomalous measurements in vortex areas. The lack of evidence and measurements undermined the acceptance of vile vortices from the start. This supposedly dangerous force affecting planes, boats, and the atmosphere has only been quantified by speculative and subjective means.
When it became obvious that physical energy (in the form of measurable flowing electrons) wasn’t noticeably different in these areas, vortex claimants pivoted to calling the effect “spiritual” or psychic “energy” – a term for something that is not scientifically defined or measurable. That makes definitively documenting vortices conveniently impossible.
According to a website called “Vortex Hunters”, a vortex will cause normal devices to not register correctly:
“Traditional test equipment devices can be ineffective in sensing the unknown energies claimed to be present at some vortexes. Often, the best evidence of a vortex is how people feel when they are in one.”
VortexHunters.comA critical component of scientific investigation is to minimize personal bias and subjectivity. How one “feels” is the least reliable method of measurement. The admission that vortices cannot be objectively detected is a giveaway that they are more imaginary than real.
Continuing on this theme of detectably-undetectable energy, you can discover magical vortex areas by using magical tools like pendulums or dowsing rods. Or, as some vortex hunters claim, a person will sense tingling or an electrical feeling when in a vortex area. The vortex energy, some dauntless paranormalists state, may open a portal to another dimension. The portal conveniently allows spirits, aliens, or unusual creatures to appear and disappear without a trace.
A few self-proclaimed “vortex scientists” describe some huge energy vortexes hundreds of miles across and part of a larger Fibonacci spiral thousands of miles across connecting important features. This is similar to ley lines but in circular and “quantum” terms. Appealing to quantum physics is a common and practical way of sounding sciencey to a non-scientist audience because the jargon sounds impressive but is nonsense. Quantum energy has nothing to do with the way people feel at vortex locations. The construction of complex, speculative concepts to explain mystery areas is effective in making the public believe that something extraordinary and real is occurring at that place. A critical evaluation of vortex areas reveals that they are designated based on pattern-seeking. If a location was famous for its strangeness, it can be labeled by someone as a vortex just by declaring it to be so. Eventually, many areas worldwide were called vortices as the use of term “vortex” expanded.
It’s in the rock
Many places around the world that are noted to be “energy vortexes” are also striking geological features (Sedona, Ibiza, Mt. Shasta, Haleakala, Uluru) or man-made stone structures (Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, Glastonbury Tor, Pyramid of Giza). So, vortex promoters say there is something about the rock.
Citing the bedrock composition as a key to vortex energy sounds legitimate and scientific. It’s not difficult to find many ghost hunters or UFO seekers citing the presence of limestone or quartz (and sometimes iron or gold) in the underlying rock as the catalyst that amplifies the earth’s energy to power paranormal activity. Their vague reasoning asserts that limestone or quartz more effectively channels or concentrates the energy. This may sound technical, but it’s science fiction to geologists. Limestone and quartz-containing bedrock (commonly, sandstone or granite) are ubiquitous in the crust and have been widely evaluated for their physical properties for all sorts of uses. There is nothing inherent in these rock types linked to the generation or focusing of physical or mystical energy. (Concepts of piezoelectricity, telluric currents, or conductivity are regularly abused for this purpose.) Tellingly, most paranormalists who proclaim this bedrock connection never check their local geological map. Sometimes neither limestone nor quartz is present. (To wit: shale and basalt are also ubiquitous.)
Another geological claim is that magnetic or gravitational anomalies in the crust fuel the energy vortex. There are maps of such anomalies around the globe. Magnetic anomalies are local variations in the earth’s magnetic field on the surface caused by differences in chemistry and magnetism of materials under the surface. Gravity anomalies are differences between the locally observed and the theoretically calculated value of gravity that reflects local variations in the density of the underlying rocks. These features are dictated by geological structure. For example, anomalies will appear in areas where the bedrock deviates from average density or composition because of ore bodies, or tectonic features. It’s just not mysterious. Such anomalies do not cause a human physiological response, regardless of the claims. This is well-established; to claim otherwise is delusory.
Popular paranormal vortices
Let’s take a look at a few common locations said to be paranormal vortices. These include so-called “mystery spots”, a few other designated triangular areas, and zones of “high strangeness” where all kinds of weird observations are reported.
Oregon Vortex: The location of the House of Mystery in Gold Hill, Oregon. Opened to the public as a tourist attraction in 1930, the location is advertised as an area of unique phenomena where “everyday physical facts are reversed” because of a spherical force field. It was the nation’s first “mystery spot” roadside attraction typically consisting of crooked buildings that create optical illusions against the landscape. Though there are self-published research findings for the Oregon Vortex, none of it is solid and the work is considered to be pseudoscience.
House of Mystery at the Oregon VortexSanta Cruz Mystery spot: A tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, California since 1939 featuring a tilted house enhanced by sloped land. The original owner was inspired by the Oregon Vortex attraction. The site has accumulated legends and exaggerated stories about the disconcerting effects. Many other similar tourist spots like this have been built around the country after the initial mystery spots gained attention from traveling families. While it is true that the site can be disorienting, the cause is not paranormal energy.
Sedona, AZ: Likely the most famous area of “energy vortexes” in the world. Several “positive” vortex areas are said to exist around Sedona that supposedly promote a sense of well-being, healing, high emotion, spiritual awareness, feeling of connection to the universe, and sometimes even visions. The energy is also said to manifest in signs such as twisted trees and light anomalies. The town is blessed with amazing climate and incredible erosional features carved into the red rock formations. The Oak Creek Canyon leading to Sedona is one of the few stream valleys in Arizona that flows all year. The location always served as a draw for artists, retirees and people seeking quiet and natural scenic beauty. The focus on spirituality began in the 1940s. By the 1960s, new age religious leaders were capitalizing on the location, seeking special cosmic energy there. The first use of the term “vortex” in reference to Sedona may have been around 1980. Sedona as a “vortex energy center” culminated in 1987 when thousands came for the harmonic convergence of the planets. Since then, the town jumped onboard the “vortex” theme. Several commercial ventures, from stores, resorts, and guided tours capitalize on exposing tourists to the vortex locations. There is no doubt that there is something “special” about this place – it’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It feels sacred and magical for very non-paranormal reasons. As with other vortex areas, there is no unique “energy” measurement that can be demonstrated here. Any unusual observation, however, is gleefully claimed to be the result of a vortex.
Gallery: Infamous Bell Rock in Sedona (top left). Next (middle left) is a camera light anomaly captured by the author but what some would call a “light vortex”. The Sedona Crystal Vortex (lower left) is one of the many New Age shops in Downtown Sedona that capitalized on its mystical reputation. A twisted desert juniper tree near the base of Bell Rock (right). All photos by S. Hill.
Glastonbury, UK: A town in Somerset, England that has evidence of occupation for thousands of years and has accumulated extensive colorful legends. Glastonbury is recognized as a key location for the development of “New Age” beliefs. The place is said to be sacred and magical. Some reasoned that its specialness comes from the vortex energy derived from the intersection of ley lines that occurs here.
Bermuda Triangle: The first recognized “vortex”. The mysterious phenomenon of the location is still hyped by paranormal writers who erroneously claim that disappearances of ships and planes must have a more dramatic cause other than mechanical troubles, human error, or rough seas and storms.
Dragon’s Triangle: Said to be a “twin” area of the Bermuda Triangle off the coast of Japan where vessels disappear. In 1953, the research ship No. 5 Kaiyo Maru was sunk in the “Devil’s Sea” area after encountering an erupting undersea volcano. While this was undoubtedly an unusual incident, it was not mysterious. The remains of the ship were positively identified in the area where the submarine volcano exploded. The claims about missing boats or aircraft were real, but exaggerated by mystery mongers like author Charles Berlitz who wrote about both triangle areas and other paranormal subjects. Not everyone looked at the statistics and facts, certainly not Berliz who cherry-picked and inflated certain events to bolster the mystery.
For a time, the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan) Triangle was also considered an especially dangerous area for ships. But, as with other deep water areas, the disappearance of vessels might be immediately undetermined but usually not so mysterious.
Paranormal Triangles: Drawing triangles is easy; you simply need three points of reference. Paranormalists who conclude that certain areas have more than the usual number of weird experiences and phenomena sometimes refer to locations as areas of “high strangeness”. If a triangle can be drawn, a catchy name can be given and the weird stories multiply. “Weird” areas with a concentration of reports of UFOs, monsters, ghosts, demonic activity, anomalous atmospheric events, strange behavior of living things, disorientation, illness, compass anomalies, deaths, and disappearances are frequently referred to as “paranormal vortex” areas. These areas may be large or localized. Famous land triangle areas include the Bridgewater Triangle in Massachusetts and the Bennington Triangle in Vermont. These are associated with disappearances, suicides, murders, earth lights, mystery aircraft sightings, the appearance of strange creatures, time slips, hauntings, and almost any other kind of creepy tale you can think of.
The trend to label areas of high strangeness and popularize them in the media is growing. Calling an area a “paranormal vortex” suggest that some mysterious and unidentified “energy” is behind the myriad of strange goings on. It enhances their reputation and makes people far more curious about them. Examples include Skinwalker Ranch and the greater Uinta basin in Utah, San Luis Valley, California, Mt Shasta, California, and Dulce, New Mexico.
Places that seem even a bit unusual or have a mysterious history – such as Ringing Rocks in Pennsylvania, the Hudson River Valley of New York, and the Superstition Mountains of Arizona – are also called vortex areas by some paranormal enthusiasts. The application of the term “vortex” to describe areas of paranormal activity is vague and inconsistent because there is no concrete phenomenon to pin down. Ghost hunters will invoke the term to describe any localized incident where they felt strange, had equipment malfunction or recorded environmental anomalies. For a few years, paranormal investigators who took flash photographs with cameras would catch illuminated swirls and call them “vortexes” of paranormal energy.
Conclusion on the paranormal vortex
The concept of vortex areas as zones of paranormal or spiritual energy forces remains popular today even though the evidence points strongly to the vortices being imaginary constructs developed and propagated by creative people. Vile vortices ended up being a debased device to explain everything paranormal but nothing verifiable in a particular location. Mathematic and geometric attempts to quantify a paranormal area failed because the earth is not based on a design – its near-surface is complex and heterogeneous, and the subjective data didn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Humans are fantastic at identifying patterns in occurrences and making spurious correlations that aren’t connected to the real cause, especially if those means result in media attention or attract tourist dollars. Paranormalists rely on vague, subjective feelings, weak data, speculation, and dramatic scary stories to convince an audience of their claims, all of which have been used to promote vortex areas. The energy or paranormal vortex is a handy way to combine odd experiences into a location and attempt to explain them. Inventive writers and businesspeople played up spiritual and sciencey themes to enhance mystery and magic in the world.
As great as it would be to discover an energy vortex and pin down the cause of so-called paranormal activity, the evidence supporting vortices as a particular, genuine feature of earth fizzled out.
Bibliography
In addition to the inline reference links above, the following sources were used.
Dunning, Brian Skeptoid Podcast “The Bermuda Triangle and the Devil’s Sea.” 20 Nov 2012. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4337
Dunning, Brian Skeptoid Podcast “The Sedona Energy Vortex.” 11 Jun 2013. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4366.
Kusche, Larry. The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved. 1995.
Litster, John. The Oregon Vortex. 1960.
Sanderson, Ivan T. “The 12 Devil’s Graveyards Around The World” Reprint from SAGA UFO report Special 1973.
“Sedona History” https://www.sedonaaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=34040
“Vile Vortices” from The Paranormal Encyclopedia https://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/v/vile-vortices/
#BermudaTriangle #DevilPlaces #DevilSSea #DragonTriangle #energyVortex #highStrangeness #leyLines #limestone #mysteriousPlaces #Paranormal #paranormalPlaces #paranormalVortex #quartz #SpookyGeology #vileVortices https://sharonahill.com/?p=7351 -
Spooky Geology
Spooky Geology is a science-based look at mysterious earth phenomena, geologic anomalies, and the endless weird ideas about rocks and the earth that are a bit abnormal, paranormal, or supernatural.
Spooky: Causing fear and unease; mysterious, freaky, weird, uncanny, unsettling, eerie; unnatural, unearthly.
I started the SpookyGeology.com web site in 2017 to explore the human ideas of haunted earth, mysterious natural phenomena, and strange anomalies. From ancient geomythology to modern “signs of the times”, from the atmospheric to the center core, there are hundreds of topics that fit under this spooky label. No one was comprehensively exploring this weird nature niche. I originally started with the following categories, but sometimes it’s difficult to pin topics to a label.
Click on the individual categories to see all posts for that topic.
Locations that have special characteristics or unusual features that result in an awe-inspiring “sense of place”. They feel eerie, unnatural, sacred, mystical, or are revered as so unique that they are attributed to being inhabited by spirits or created by supernatural entities.
A broad category of beliefs and legends associated with the earth that are believed to manifest outside scientific understanding or are rejected by mainstream academics. Most commonly, these topics are associated with secret earth “energies” that the diligent person can “tap”.
Fantastic fringe ideas about how the earth was created and how it operates today based on religious or other non-scientific thought processes. Often, these alternative world-views resonate with political ideologies.
All manner of natural objects or geomorphic features of the earth with strange and surprising qualities that appear non-natural, out-of-place, or imbued with special powers. Often based on a misunderstanding of complex natural processes, they may be interpreted as supernatural.
Special circumstances or geological processes can result in rare or remarkable features or events that are dangerous or deadly. It appears the planet cares not for the life on its surface and will indiscriminately destroy it. Often, human actions exacerbate the hazards.
Take a whirlwind tour of the spooky geology sphere of topics.
This presenation by Dr. Thomas Holtz, Univ. of Maryland professor, prompted me to start Spooky Geology. The talk was from Balticon 50 on May 30, 2016 about paranormal concepts related to the nature of our planet, featuring discussions on Atlantis, Lemuria, the hollow Earth, sunken continents, a concave Earth, and everything made of Nummulitids (forams).
Holtz points out that many of these ideas were not crazy at the time but seemed plausible based on the science of the time. He connects all the idea with their founders and popularizers as well as with famous science fiction and fantasy literature that borrowed them.
I hope you enjoy this unique content at the intersection of geology with the weird and paranormal.
#earth #earthMysteries #earthWillKillYou #Fortean #geology #nature #SpookyGeology #weirdNature #weirdScience
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