What is causing the mysterious 'booms' heard in 64 locations around the world

this year?
 Most recently, a 'boom' was heard across much of the north of Alabama
 Suggested causes include supersonic aircrafts, a ground explosion, or a bolide
 Other booms have occurred in Cairns on October 10 and Abergavenny on May 11
 Incidents of these mystery booms are becoming more frequent
By Shivali Best For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 15:18 BST, 21 November 2017 | UPDATED: 13:21 BST, 22 November 2017

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Residents in Alabama were left baffled last week when a loud boom resounded across
much of the state.

The boom, nicknamed 'Bama Boom', has left experts stumped, with suggested causes
ranging from supersonic aircrafts to meteors exploding in the atmosphere.

This isn't the first time that the mysterious sound has been heard, and incidents are
becoming more frequent according to some reports.

This year alone, similar noises have been reported 64 times this year, in locations
including Michigan, Lapland, St Ives, Swansea and Yorkshire.

Scroll down for a full list of booms in 2017

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
Mysterious booms have been reported 64 times this year, in locations including
Michigan, Lapland, St Ives, Swansea and Yorkshire. Incidents are becoming more
frequent according to some reports.

WHAT COULD THEY BE?

In 2017 alone, 64 booms have been heard worldwide.

The cause of most of the booms remains a mystery, although several explanations have
been suggested.

1) Sonic booms

A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created by an object traveling
through the air faster than the speed of sound – such as supersonic aircrafts.

Sonic booms generate significant amounts of sound energy, sounding like an explosion to
the human ear.

2) Military exercises
Many unexplained loud noises can be put down to military training, either at Army or Naval
bases or in remote areas used for such exercises.

3) Controlled explosions

A controlled explosion is a method for detonating or disabling a suspected explosive device,

such as bags left at train stations.

4) Unusual weather

Many loud noises link back to unusual weather events, such as electrical storms or thunder
storms.

5) Meteors

Large meteors passing above Earth often produce shock waves that can be heard as a
sonic boom.

6) Sound amplified from aircraft

Some have suggested that the sound was due to inversion - a phenomenon that occurs
when a layer of warm air sits over a layer of cooler air, magnifying the sound of an aircraft
miles away.

7) Aliens

Some conspiracy theorists claim that the mysterious booms are noises created by aliens -
although there is no evidence to support this.

Alabama, November 14

Cause: Unknown, suggested explanations include a sonic boom from an aircraft or a

meteorite

The Birmingham National Weather Service tweeted: 'Loud boom heard: we do not
see anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS
indicating an earthquake.'
The service suggested that the sound was either caused by a sonic boom from aircraft,
or a meteorite from the Leonid shower.

But Nasa has since cast doubt on these explanations.

Speaking to ABC 3340, Bill Cooke, head of Nasa's Meteoroid Environment Office, said
that the boom could have been caused by a supersonic aircraft, a ground explosion, or
a bolide - a large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere unrelated to the Leonid
shower.
While the noise was picked up by the US Geological Survey, data suggests that the
boom wasn't the result of an earthquake.

The boom may have been caused by a military flight by a supersonic jet, although the
US Air Force is yet to confirm this.

The Bama Boom is just one of many mysterious booms heard worldwide this year.

Idaho, November 15

Cause: Unknown

The day after the boom in Alabama, a similar noise was heard in Idaho.

Multiple people reported hearing a loud boom over the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley
around 23:00.

Many of the reports described the sound as being similar to a sonic boom, although its
cause and location remain unclear.

Cairns, October 10

Cause: Unknown, suggested explanations include a meteorite, a gas bottle explosion or

military plane

On October 10, a boom was heart over Cairns, Queensland that had the city baffled.

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While the noise in Alabama was picked up by the US Geological Survey
(graph pictured), data suggests that the boom wasn't the result of an earthquake

Residents' theories ranged from a meteorite to a gas bottle explosion or military plane.

A FA-18 Hornet plane was heard flying over Cairns the previous night, but no jets were
flying on the night when the 'explosion' happened.
 +5

The Birmingham National Weather Service tweeted: 'Loud boom heard: we do not see
anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS indicating an
earthquake'

Abergavenny, May 11

Cause: Unknown

Residents in Abergavenny, Wales, were also shocked after they heard a series of
booms on May 11.
 +5

James Spann, AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist tweeted that no explanation had
been provided by USGS, NOAA or EMA

Speaking to the Abergavenny Chronicle, one resident said: 'It nearly gave me a heart
attack it was that loud. At first I thought it was shotgun blast or a firework, but it was way
too loud for that. It sounded more like a tank going off.
'My husband said it was probably mini meteors colliding with the earth, but have you
ever heard such nonsense?'

Again, the source of the Welsh booms have remained unsolved.

But other booms this year have had explanations behind them.
 +5

Other booms have been known to be caused by secret military missions. On May 7, a
boom rattled Central Florida, caused by a military mission ending at the Kennedy Space
Centre (stock image)

Lapland, November 17

Cause: Falling meteor

On November 17, a boom in Lapland was caused by a fireball from a falling meteor.

Footage showed a bright light in the sky over Inari in Finland - but the flash was so
intense it was also seen in Russia's Kola Peninsula and in northern Norway.

Stargazers reported seeing the sky 'light up like day' for a few seconds alongside a loud
noise as the space rock plummeted towards Earth.

Eyre Peninsula, October 27

Cause: Falling meteor

On October 27, another boom was heard over Eyre Peninsula in Australia, as a bright
blue meteor shot across the sky.

Incredible video as fireball turns night into bright daylight

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On November 17, a boom in Lapland was caused by a fireball from a falling meteor.
Footage showed a bright light in the sky over Inari in Finland - but the flash was so
intense it was also seen in Russia's Kola Peninsula and in northern Norway

The loud bangs weren't caused by the fireball hitting Earth, and instead were caused by
the change in pressure as the meteor soared through the air.

Speaking to News.com.au, Renee Sayers, a spokeswoman from the Desert Fireball

Network, explained: 'The shock wasn't from it hitting the ground; It is like a sonic boom
shock, a pressure shock.'
Central Florida, May 7

Cause: Supersonic flight testing

Other booms have been known to be caused by secret military missions.

On May 7, a boom rattled Central Florida, caused by a military mission ending at the
Kennedy Space Centre.

The US Air Force tweeted: 'The Air Force #X37B #OTV4 has returned from orbit and
landed safely at @NASAKennedy.'

Can YOU work out what the sound coming from the sky is?
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MYSTERY BOOMS IN 2017

November 18 - Michigan

November 19 - Damascus - caused by airstrikes

November 17 - Lapland - caused by meteor

November 15 - Idaho

November 14 - Alabama

November 8 - Tennessee

November 4 - Oregon

November 3 - Minnesota

November 1 and 2 - New Jersey and San Diego

October 27 - Eyre Peninsula - caused by meteor

October 25 - New Jersey

October 20 - British Columbia

October 17 - North Carolina

October 10 - Detroit

September 25 - St Ives

September 22 - Temple Terrace, Florida

September 17 - Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts
- caused by meteor

September 7 - Moranbah, Australia

May 30 - Tauranga, New Zealand

May 26 - Kent

May 24 - Texas
May 19 - Massachusetts

May 16-17 - Lincolnshire

May 13 - Ontario - caused by earthquake

May 12 - Tennessee

May 11 - Abergavenny, Wales

May 7 - Florida - caused by secret military mission

April 25 - San Diego

April 17 - Michigan

April 15 - Michigan

April 9 - Maine

April 3 - Texas

March - Vermont

March 27 - Cornwall

March 26 - Arizona

March 25 - Gordonvale, Australia

March 22 - Wisconsin

March 13 - Virginia - caused by earthquake

March 12 - New York

March 11 - Kentucky

March 5 - Montreal

March 2 - Nottingham

February 27 - Louisiana

February 13 - Ohio

February 12 - Indiana

February 10 - Pennsylvania

January 30 - New Orleans

January 30 - Washington D.C

January 29 - Maryland

January 24 - San Diego

January 20 - Swansea

January 19 - New Orleans

 January 18 - North Carolina

January 17 - Canterbury

January 16 - Beddgelert, Wales

January 16 - Greater Manchester

January 13 - Marseilles

January 12 - North Yorkshire

January 6 - Louisiana

January 6 - Oregon

January 5 - Liverpool

January 4 - Missouri

January 4 - Washington

January 3 - Connecticut

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Mysterious 'booms' have been heard 64 times in 2017

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