They can be reported through email to the Maine Geological Survey at us to determine if there was a frost quake, we need human beings to tell us,” Berry said. “That means there is more moisture available for precipitation and that is, in part, fueling more rainfall.”īerry would love to see more people reporting any suspected cryoseismic activity, given that they do not register on the seismic monitoring equipment. The fast drop in temperatures causes the moisture in the ground to expand when it. “One of the factors is a warming ocean surface that increases evaporation and overall more moisture entering the atmosphere,” he said. Frost quakes, or cryoseisms, occur when the ground is saturated and mild temperatures quickly drop below freezing. While there are no hard data on what it means in terms of frost quakes, Birkel said scientific observations are showing these extreme events are creating conditions they need. Wind chills atop Mount Washington could drop below -100 troposphere could briefly dip. “In winter this can mean patterns that bring extreme cold followed by extreme warmth.” These so-called frost quakes may be possible in Maine through Saturday as our arctic front clears the area. Underneath the soil, groundwater can also rapidly freeze, which causes expansion. “Maine winters are warming and as part of a changing climate, we are seeing a tendency for more extreme weather events,” according to Sean Birkel, Maine state climatologist at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute. A frost quake forms when the temperature drops rapidly at the surface. Global News’ chief meteorologist Anthony. Over time, the conditions needed for frost quakes in Maine are increasing with extreme weather events on the rise due to climate change. What exactly are frost quakes Frost quakes, also known as ice quakes or cryoseisms, are loud noises so loud they often cause the ground to shake. “A good analogy is when you step on your deck on a really cold morning and it cracks loudly.”Ĭurrent snow depth and meteorological conditions favor frost quakes near the coast, Dumont said. “You get that pressure release and it makes booms and cracks,” Dumont said. That creates a rapid freeze and expansion. Lack of snow cover means the saturated soil has little to insulate it when very cold, arctic air rushes into the area. “You need moisture in the soil and really cold, sub-zero temperatures.” “You need a shallow amount of snow,” Dumont said. If it happens during the day, people wont hear it amid the din. Those conditions need to line up just right, according to Don Dumont, warning coordinator meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Caribou. He said a frost quake happens more often than people notice, and if it comes under deep snow, itll be muffled.
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