Exotic Events
Exotic Seismic Events are things that are recorded on seismic instruments but are not earthquakes. Natural events can include landslides, avalanches, floods, or meteors. Man-made events include explosions, sonic-booms or football fans. For a general review of such events see our exotic event blog page.
Below is a referenced list of such events recorded at the PNSN with either a blog entry or some write-up giving interesting details. This list is ordered from most recent (top) to oldest. Those marked with the text, "TO BE ADDED" are known to have seismic records but no web report of them has yet been generated.
- Mystery explosions on Orcas Island, Mar. 7, 2022
- Re-entry of rocket parts into the atmosphere generate sonic booms, May 20,2021
- A pair of large snow avalanches at Mount St. Helens, Feb 1 and 3, 2021
- A bolide explosion off the coast of Washington, March 7, 2018
- Tiny earthquakes associated with a slow landslide Jan on, 2018
- Ice/snow avalanche from Sherman Peak, Mount Baker, May 25, 2016
- Propane and natural gas explosions, in Port Orchard and Seattle, Feb-Mar, 2016
- Debris flow and rock fall at Mount Rainier and Mount Hood. Aug-Sep. 2015
- Football fans seismic shaking. Jan. 19, Jan 9, Jan 5, 2015
- Snow avalanches at Mount St. Helens. May 15, 2014
- Natural gas explosion in North Bend, WA Apr. 25, 2014
- Very large and deadly landslide near Oso, WA, Mar. 22, 2014
- Ice avalanche at Mount Rainier, Feb 25, 2014
- Football fans making more "Beast Quakes". Jan 8, Jan 11, Jan 14, Jan 19, 2014
- Snow, ice and debris avalanche at Mount Baker, Oct. 21, 2013 (and Jul 25, 2006)
- Glacier outburst flood at Mount Baker, Jun. 2013
- Sonic boom from bolide just south of Spokane, WA, Jan 11, 2013
- Lightning and thunder recorded on seismographs near Newberry Volcano, Jun. 24, 2012
- Artillery or explosions at Yakima Firing Range, Mar. 20, 2012
- Mining explosions that were hard to diagnose, from Canada, Feb 10, 2012
- Glacier squeaks and pops at Mount Rainier, Jan 6, Jan 8, Jan 11, Jan 13, Jan 18 and Jan. 23, 2012
- Large ice/rock avalanches at Mount Rainier, Jun-Jul, 2011
- Large snow avalanche at Mount St. Helens, Mar. 10, 2011
- Probable snow avalanche at Mount Hood, Mar 10, 2011
- Original "Beast Quake" (ie football fans), Jan 8, 2011
- Light rail tunneling under Capital Hill, Seattle, Dec. 2, Dec. 6, 2011
- Large snow avalanche at Mount Hood, Mar 29, 2010
- Very large landslide in Nile Valley, eastern Cascades, Oct 11, 2009
- Volcanic tremor at an Alaskan volcano, March, 2009
- Ice/snow avalanche from Sherman Peak, Mount Baker, Jul 25, 2006
- Meteor or bolide boom near Everett, WA, Jun 3, 2004
- The first Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) observed by PNSN, Feb-Mar, 2003
- Swift reservoir canal collapse near Mount St. Helens, Apr. 21, 2002
- Debris flow at Mount Rainier, Aug 14, 2001
- Shots (explosions) as part of "SHIPS" experience in Puget Sound, Sep 21, 1999
- Glacier squeaks and pops first recognized, Nov 11-18, 1998
- Very large ice and rock avalanche off of Mount Adams, Oct. 20, 1997
- Rock Fall from Russel Cliff, Mount Rainier, Aug 16, 1989 (TO BE ADDED)
- Huge debris avalanche & eruption, Mount St. Helens, May 18, 1980 (TO BE ADDED)
- Glacier collapse into Sherman Crater, Mount Baker, Jul 13, 1977 (To BE ADDED)
- Large Rockfall from Little Tahoma, Mount Rainier, Dec 6, 1963 (TO BE ADDED)