Tens of thousands of dancing fans at Taylor Swift’s Dublin Eras Tour gigs could trigger ‘seismic activity’

Taylor Swift is ready to rock Dublin. Photo: Getty

Cian Ó Broin

Dancing by tens of thousands of Taylor Swift fans in Dublin this weekend could potentially lead to seismic activity being registered like at some of her previous Eras Tour shows, a researcher has said.

Last weekend, the British Geological Survey (BGS) said that 73,000 fans at Swift’s show in Murrayfield in Scotland led to earthquake monitors 3.7 miles away registering seismic activity.

Seismic activity is a vibration generated by an earthquake, explosion, or similar energetic source that travels within the Earth or along its surface.

Spikes in seismic activity were picked up during her songs Cruel Summer, Ready For It? and Shake It Off.

A researcher at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) is investigating the potential for seismic activity at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Dublin this weekend.

Approximately 150,000 fans are expected to attend the record-breaking highest-grossing concert of all time over its three nights in the Irish capital, with 50,000 Swift fans expected per night.

Seismometers will be placed outside the Aviva Stadium to measure seismic activity generated by Swifties during the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night shows.

The seismic data measured will be used to work out what songs are fan favourites and what is happening inside the stadium.

A seismometer is a very sensitive instrument which measures ground vibrations and can be used to detect earthquakes.

When a seismometer detects seismic activity, it records this information digitally so that it can be analysed later.

Local residents and businesses have allowed the seismometers to be placed on their property around the Aviva in recent weeks, including at Raspberry Shakes, ‘SmartSolos’ and ‘le-3Dlites’.

The variety of seismometers will be used to measure different strengths of ground vibrations.

Eleanor Dunn, PhD candidate at DIAS, said seismicity is “more than just an earthquake”.

“Seismicity is being created every day in Ireland through activities like transport, construction and concerts,” she said.

She added that Irish earthquakes are usually of such a small magnitude that we don’t tend to feel them, but they do occur.

However, it is important to note the seismic activity generated at the concert will not lead to any kind of earthquake or danger to fans in or around the stadium.

“I would love for fans to get involved by sharing their videos of the concert with us on social media by using #swiftquakeDUBLIN,” Ms Dunn said.

“This will allow us to compare the seismic activity with moments in the concert and will hopefully inform us on what songs are fan favourites and which night had the most active fans.

“I’m also hoping that this will bring science to a new audience and encourage young people to be curious about the world around them.”