Scotland’s World Cup Qualification Triggers Seismic Activity

The Tartan Army celebrated vibrantly as Scotland’s men’s football team qualified for their first World Cup in 28 years.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) recorded seismic activity equivalent to an “extremely small earthquake” after Kenny McLean scored a stunning goal, lobbing Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, leading to a 4-2 victory for Scotland.

A notable surge in seismic activity was observed shortly after the final whistle blew on Wednesday night. Measurements were taken at the BGS station located at Glasgow Geothermal Observatory in Dalmarnock, approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) from Hampden Park.

Additionally, a minor spike in activity was detected around the moment Kieran Tierney scored Scotland’s third goal, just three minutes into injury time. However, the BGS noted that the peak of seismic activity occurred between 21:48 and 21:50, precisely when McLean scored from the halfway line.

The match recorded an official attendance of 49,587 spectators. The seismic readings varied between magnitudes -1 and 0 on the Richter Scale, generating the equivalent of 200 kW of power—sufficient to power between 25 and 40 car batteries.

The BGS elaborated that this level of activity was comparable to propelling a football at approximately 900 m/s (2,013 mph), significantly faster than any recorded strike, which is believed to be around 131.2 mph (58 m/s) by Brazilian defender Ronny Heberson during a 2007 match.

Interestingly, seismic activity was also noted during Taylor Swift’s concerts at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh last summer. However, the BGS clarified that a direct comparison between the two events was not feasible due to differing site conditions.

The BGS estimates that around 300 naturally occurring earthquakes occur annually in the UK, with only about 30 possessing sufficient magnitude to be felt by residents. For instance, a 3.3 magnitude earthquake was recently experienced in Perthshire.

In other news, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand was seen speaking at the Glasgow Film Theatre after a documentary screening about her life. Additionally, plans are underway by Glasgow City Council to install a new entrance on the eastern side of the Victorian graveyard surrounding the Pump House, the last surviving structure at the Govan Graving Docks, which has been abandoned since the late 1980s.

Fresh from the World Cup celebrations, musician Callum Beattie is gearing up for a significant performance, set to take the stage at Bellahouston Park on June 29, after having headlined Glastonbury earlier this year.