The triumph of Scotland’s national football team resonated far beyond the pitch on Wednesday night. Kenny McLean’s pivotal goal marked a historic moment, securing Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. His remarkable lob over Denmark’s goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, finalized a thrilling 4-2 victory.
Scotland Fans Shake the Earth
The celebratory atmosphere among the Tartan Army was so intense that it triggered seismic activity. The British Geological Survey (BGS) identified readings that resembled an “extremely small earthquake.” This event occurred right after McLean’s goal and continued with fluctuations at the final whistle.
Seismic Data Details
The BGS conducted monitoring from the Glasgow Geothermal Observatory in Dalmarnock, approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Hampden Park, where the match took place. Significant seismic activity was recorded between 21:48 and 21:50, aligning perfectly with the moment McLean scored.
- Activity ranged from magnitude -1 to zero on the Richter Scale.
- It produced energy equivalent to 200 kW, sufficient for powering 25 to 40 car batteries.
- Comparable to blasting a football at 900 m/s (2,013 mph).
Match Attendance and Other Notable Events
The match witnessed an official attendance of 49,587 fans. Earlier in the game, another surge of activity was noted three minutes into injury time when Kieran Tierney scored Scotland’s third goal.
Interestingly, the BGS had previously recorded seismic movements from Taylor Swift’s concerts at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh during the summer. However, the organization refrained from directly comparing the two incidents due to differing site conditions.
Earthquake Statistics in the UK
Scotland’s electric atmosphere was a rare occurrence in the realm of seismic activity. The BGS noted that the UK experiences about 300 naturally occurring earthquakes annually, with only around 30 being strong enough to be felt by the public. In a recent example, a 3.3 magnitude earthquake was reported in Perthshire last month.
This monumental win not only marks a significant athletic achievement for Scotland, but it also illustrates the passionate support of its fans—evident as they shook the earth beneath them in celebration.
