Comments on: Weird loud booms in northern California http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 08:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jophus http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1520541 Jophus Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1520541  You know, that's really interesting. I have no idea what these booms are, and it's been like a puzzle work for me to ponder what they might be. Not once had I considered water. Thanks for mentioning it.  You know, that’s really interesting. I have no idea what these booms are, and it’s been like a puzzle work for me to ponder what they might be. Not once had I considered water. Thanks for mentioning it.

]]> By: zotlerg http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1520167 zotlerg Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1520167 Atmospheric? Causes by what, several times a week? It just seems man made to me and nothing to do with weather. Atmospheric? Causes by what, several times a week? It just seems man made to me and nothing to do with weather.

]]> By: rtresco http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519601 rtresco Tue, 28 Aug 2012 02:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519601 "The local Naval Air Station denies any supersonic flights over the area. " Well, that's that then. C'mon! If there's a Naval airbase in the area that's it, 100%. Practically the whole southern east coast from Virginia Beach to Parris Island is military - sonic booms go off all the time and EVERY time the local base says, "Weird. Not us though." When pressed by local media they always say their pilots know better and are under orders. Doesn't mean anything. “The local Naval Air Station denies any supersonic flights over the area. ” Well, that’s that then. C’mon! If there’s a Naval airbase in the area that’s it, 100%. Practically the whole southern east coast from Virginia Beach to Parris Island is military – sonic booms go off all the time and EVERY time the local base says, “Weird. Not us though.” When pressed by local media they always say their pilots know better and are under orders. Doesn’t mean anything.

]]> By: Mantissa128 http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519588 Mantissa128 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 02:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519588 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfire_locator" rel="nofollow">Law enforcement already uses this for gunfire.</a> I wonder if it could be tweaked for this application. Law enforcement already uses this for gunfire. I wonder if it could be tweaked for this application.

]]> By: Gary Rogers http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519554 Gary Rogers Tue, 28 Aug 2012 01:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519554 Wait… This county is next to Nevada. $20 says it's on the approach leg into the Tonapah range. Wait… This county is next to Nevada. $20 says it’s on the approach leg into the Tonapah range.

]]> By: Daniel Carter http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519519 Daniel Carter Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519519 My parents live in Pleasant Valley, and they hear the booms every weekday between 11am and 3pm. I've never heard them, as my visits are usually on weekends. But... I do recall hearing sonic booms in the summers when I'd visit my grandparents up there. I'd see the jet go by sometimes (not always). That was in the mid 1970s, though. Here's another story from the local Placerville paper:  http://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/hey-what-with-the-booms/ My parents live in Pleasant Valley, and they hear the booms every weekday between 11am and 3pm. I’ve never heard them, as my visits are usually on weekends. But… I do recall hearing sonic booms in the summers when I’d visit my grandparents up there. I’d see the jet go by sometimes (not always). That was in the mid 1970s, though. Here’s another story from the local Placerville paper:  http://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/hey-what-with-the-booms/

]]> By: SoItBegins http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519505 SoItBegins Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519505 If it's a human cause, I bet authorities will lower the boom on 'em. If it’s a human cause, I bet authorities will lower the boom on ‘em.

]]> By: Develsaa http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519428 Develsaa Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519428 Yeah, I live in a really small town, called Twain Harte, there are about 2500 people in my town (and that is stretching it), and it's full of tree's, hill's, etc. We're in the heart of the foothills, so to hear that loud of a boom, multiple nights in a row. It sounded like a gunshot but it echoed for far too long.  But as a kid when I would come up here to visit, I can remember laying in the forest looking up at the stars and seeing stealth jet's pass me, and you heard them LONG before you saw them, flying low under the radar, with absolutely no lights, painted black.  Strange lights, etc are the norm here, so I really don't believe the Dry Ice thing.. However I am not really a conspiracy theorist so this revelation surprises me. Edit // Apparently I am not the only one : http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/news_forum.php?ID=1756855#Read Yeah, I live in a really small town, called Twain Harte, there are about 2500 people in my town (and that is stretching it), and it’s full of tree’s, hill’s, etc. We’re in the heart of the foothills, so to hear that loud of a boom, multiple nights in a row. It sounded like a gunshot but it echoed for far too long. 

But as a kid when I would come up here to visit, I can remember laying in the forest looking up at the stars and seeing stealth jet’s pass me, and you heard them LONG before you saw them, flying low under the radar, with absolutely no lights, painted black. 

Strange lights, etc are the norm here, so I really don’t believe the Dry Ice thing.. However I am not really a conspiracy theorist so this revelation surprises me.

Edit // Apparently I am not the only one :
http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/news_forum.php?ID=1756855#Read

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519267 bcsizemo Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519267 Well I don't know about in California, but here in NC we haven't started doing fracking yet.  And from everything I've seen it'd be highly unlikely we'd do it on the coastal areas of the state anyway.  Besides realistically this seems like an atmospheric phenomenon. Well I don’t know about in California, but here in NC we haven’t started doing fracking yet.  And from everything I’ve seen it’d be highly unlikely we’d do it on the coastal areas of the state anyway. 

Besides realistically this seems like an atmospheric phenomenon.

]]> By: tristan eldritch http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519251 tristan eldritch Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519251  Well, its likely something relatively mundane, that people have become more aware of recently, owing to an explosion in social media and the generally jittery and apocalyptic mood of the times.  At any rate, I hope it isn't Yahwah giving a few premonitory blasts on his trumpet.  Well, its likely something relatively mundane, that people have become more aware of recently, owing to an explosion in social media and the generally jittery and apocalyptic mood of the times.  At any rate, I hope it isn’t Yahwah giving a few premonitory blasts on his trumpet.

]]> By: chris jimson http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519245 chris jimson Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519245 "Pleasant" Valley. “Pleasant” Valley.

]]> By: zotlerg http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519236 zotlerg Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519236 -= THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FRACKING! =- No. Nothing to do with underground frack mining at all. None whatsoever, na ah. No siree-bob! Oh no, no, no, no, no. Makes too much money to be a problem for anybody, even if they can set fire to their tap water! -= THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FRACKING! =-
No. Nothing to do with underground frack mining at all. None whatsoever, na ah. No siree-bob! Oh no, no, no, no, no.
Makes too much money to be a problem for anybody, even if they can set fire to their tap water!

]]> By: The Life Of Bryan http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519213 The Life Of Bryan Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519213 Well if this Cthulu character knows <em>anything</em> about foreplay… Well if this Cthulu character knows anything about foreplay…

]]> By: TimRowledge http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519206 TimRowledge Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519206 It is the footfalls of Cthulhu. Pray you are first eaten... It is the footfalls of Cthulhu. Pray you are first eaten…

]]> By: Thomas Shaddack http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519204 Thomas Shaddack Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519204 That's what I meant! This is the same time-of-arrival method used by passive radars, e.g. this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamara_passive_sensor That’s what I meant! This is the same time-of-arrival method used by passive radars, e.g. this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamara_passive_sensor

]]> By: Marlin Mixon http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519199 Marlin Mixon Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519199 I would second this idea but add that I would treat this as a triangulation problem using spherical geometry rather than planar circular geometry which will tend to either prove or disprove an airborne  source of the booms.  Either that or if you try to solve the triangulation in a planar and find that none of the circles touch, then you know that the source was elevated. Ugh, nevermind. you would have to know exactly when the event started, I guess visually or something, in order to calculate this! I would second this idea but add that I would treat this as a triangulation problem using spherical geometry rather than planar circular geometry which will tend to either prove or disprove an airborne  source of the booms.  Either that or if you try to solve the triangulation in a planar and find that none of the circles touch, then you know that the source was elevated.

Ugh, nevermind. you would have to know exactly when the event started, I guess visually or something, in order to calculate this!

]]> By: Thomas Shaddack http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519188 Thomas Shaddack Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519188 Take a GPS receiver, with one pulse-per-second output. Take a microphone. Connect the microphone to one (e.g. left) and the GPS-PPS to the other channel of a sound card input. Record via e.g. Audacity. Do it simultaneously at several places. With today's size of hard drives the recording can go for many hours to couple days. A single-second accuracy can be achieved by syncing the computer clock via e.g. NTP (or even with the GPS receiver on a serial port). A submicrosecond accuracy then can be derived from the edge of the PPS signal and counting samples from it. Compare the precise time-of-arrival of the signal at several places with known position (again, the GPS will do a good job here).  Use the meteorological values for air pressure/temperature/humidity to get reasonably accurate speed of sound. Calculate the position of the source. Take a GPS receiver, with one pulse-per-second output. Take a microphone. Connect the microphone to one (e.g. left) and the GPS-PPS to the other channel of a sound card input. Record via e.g. Audacity. Do it simultaneously at several places. With today’s size of hard drives the recording can go for many hours to couple days.

A single-second accuracy can be achieved by syncing the computer clock via e.g. NTP (or even with the GPS receiver on a serial port). A submicrosecond accuracy then can be derived from the edge of the PPS signal and counting samples from it.

Compare the precise time-of-arrival of the signal at several places with known position (again, the GPS will do a good job here).  Use the meteorological values for air pressure/temperature/humidity to get reasonably accurate speed of sound. Calculate the position of the source.

]]> By: Fred Cairns http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519175 Fred Cairns Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519175 Who knows? It might have a bearing:  http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2012/08/24/106439/fracking_bills_fail_in_california_legislature?category=science Who knows? It might have a bearing: 
http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2012/08/24/106439/fracking_bills_fail_in_california_legislature?category=science

]]> By: Fred Cairns http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519171 Fred Cairns Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519171 1867, they had the same problem in Australia.  http://www.futilitycloset.com/2011/01/11/thunder-down-under/ 1867, they had the same problem in Australia. 
http://www.futilitycloset.com/2011/01/11/thunder-down-under/

]]> By: Jonathan Scott http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519168 Jonathan Scott Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519168 would it be hard to get a number of people together in the area (3+), have them set up microphones outside, synchronize the recordings by playing a bit of a radio station out loud at a preset time, and share the results after a couple of booms have been heard? triangulate based on gps coordinates and the delay until the boom is heard at each mic. source found. would it be hard to get a number of people together in the area (3+), have them set up microphones outside, synchronize the recordings by playing a bit of a radio station out loud at a preset time, and share the results after a couple of booms have been heard? triangulate based on gps coordinates and the delay until the boom is heard at each mic. source found.

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519159 xzzy Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519159 "Cut down a bit of the planet every day using this weird loud boom." “Cut down a bit of the planet every day using this weird loud boom.”

]]> By: Wolf Ilandl Butler http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519152 Wolf Ilandl Butler Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519152 It's interesting that there were a large number of earthquakes in southern California at roughly the same time... I have to agree with Michael M.- it would probably be a good idea to see where the Mythbusters are filming though. It’s interesting that there were a large number of earthquakes in southern California at roughly the same time…

I have to agree with Michael M.- it would probably be a good idea to see where the Mythbusters are filming though.

]]> By: hidflect http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519134 hidflect Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519134  Could be Sprites http://elf.gi.alaska.edu/ But I recall in one town reporting the phenomena it was posited as probably being sound booming through the local waterworks. Water does funny things to sound.  Could be Sprites
http://elf.gi.alaska.edu/
But I recall in one town reporting the phenomena it was posited as probably being sound booming through the local waterworks. Water does funny things to sound.

]]> By: desiredusername http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519126 desiredusername Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519126 That sounds like the beginning of a Paul Bunyan story That sounds like the beginning of a Paul Bunyan story

]]> By: tristan eldritch http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519119 tristan eldritch Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519119 Whatever it is, its been around for ages.  I recently watched an interview with John Keel from the early eighties, where Keel talks about what he calls "sky quakes" - basically describing almost word for word what you describe there.  So whatever is - mundane atmospheric phenomenon, or Illuminati joy-riders thrilling across unknown velocities and skyways - it's not new. Whatever it is, its been around for ages.  I recently watched an interview with John Keel from the early eighties, where Keel talks about what he calls “sky quakes” – basically describing almost word for word what you describe there.  So whatever is – mundane atmospheric phenomenon, or Illuminati joy-riders thrilling across unknown velocities and skyways – it’s not new.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519111 bcsizemo Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519111 That must be in one hell of a container.  I mean I've done similar things with 2L soda bottles before, but I doubt it would register as a "big" boom over a mile away (especially if there are trees or the land isn't completely flat). That must be in one hell of a container.  I mean I’ve done similar things with 2L soda bottles before, but I doubt it would register as a “big” boom over a mile away (especially if there are trees or the land isn’t completely flat).

]]> By: Michael McMaster http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519105 Michael McMaster Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519105 I have the strangest feeling that somehow the Mythbusters have something to do with it, has anyone checked to see if they're filming in the area?  Jamie: "Today we're seeing if you can make an omelette without breaking any eggs" Adam: "What's the big box of explosives for?" Jamie: "Ratings" I have the strangest feeling that somehow the Mythbusters have something to do with it, has anyone checked to see if they’re filming in the area? 
Jamie: “Today we’re seeing if you can make an omelette without breaking any eggs”
Adam: “What’s the big box of explosives for?”
Jamie: “Ratings”

]]> By: Colin Curry http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519089 Colin Curry Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519089 Residents in the town of McAdam, New Brunswick, Canada were also reporting loud booms earlier this year. I'm not sure if the cause was ever resolved but last I heard it was an earthquake swarm. Residents in the town of McAdam, New Brunswick, Canada were also reporting loud booms earlier this year. I’m not sure if the cause was ever resolved but last I heard it was an earthquake swarm.

]]> By: CSBD http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519084 CSBD Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519084 My guess: Its either something mundane... or its the Aurora bouncing in and out of the atmosphere after overflying russia/china (which since it has been going on for more than 20 years is kind of mundane now too). My guess: Its either something mundane… or its the Aurora bouncing in and out of the atmosphere after overflying russia/china (which since it has been going on for more than 20 years is kind of mundane now too).

]]> By: The Life Of Bryan http://boingboing.net/2012/08/27/weird-loud-booms-in-northern-c.html#comment-1519078 The Life Of Bryan Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=178275#comment-1519078 <a href="http://www.myreporter.com/?p=1275" rel="nofollow">Something similar</a> has also been reported frequently in Coastal NC over the past few years. Something similar has also been reported frequently in Coastal NC over the past few years.

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