An Unusual Example of Pseudoseisms Resulting from Military Exercises

Abstract

Aerial bombing of the target island of Kahoolawe, Hawaii, during several hours on 19 and 20 December 1961 and on 13 February 1962 generated acoustic disturbances that were felt by people and recorded by seismometers on the island of Hawaii. The azimuth of arrival of the pseudoseisms was calculated from the accurate seismographic responses. Special atmospheric conditions are suspected as prime agencies in the propagation and focusing of these phenomena; lack of specific data in this field, however, leaves the matter of atmospheric structure speculative.