Seahawks fans' frenzy felt by seismometer

Sophie Moynihan
7b
Current Events

On Sunday January 9, the Seattle Seahawks played the New Orleans Saints at Quest feild in Seattle. Around 66,336 fans came to cheer on the seahawks and pray to the super bowl gods that their team would make it to the playoffs. A player for the Hawks names Marshal Lynch caught the ball and made a 67 touch down run. At this the ground jumped, stopped, and cheered to vigorously that it shook the stadium and some of the surrounding city, to an earthquake measuring to about 1 or 2 on the rector scale. Although the earthquake was only felt by those around the stadium or in downtown Seattle, the crowd caused aftershocks when the pass was re-played on the big screen. A scientist form the University of Washington named john Vidale was the first one to realize that what was going on was considered an earthquake. "The stands were shaking," said John Vidale, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network at the University of Washington. "You probably would have felt it very easily if you were outside the stadium." Although this is the first time we have ever recorded a man made earthquake, there have been other cases where games have literally shaken up the town. During the world cup Scientists in Cameron reported rumbles due to the games going on. This just goes to show the power of humans.

I picked this article because 1) It was about the Seattle seahawks, and you gotta love them and 2) The fans jumping in the stadium made such strong waves that it caused an earthquake. I heard about this from my friend Emma who called me on skype to tell me the the seahawks had finally won a game and also that there had been a man made earthquake. It was a very exciting day in Seattle indeed.