NORFOLK -- Many people have been calling 13News Now, as well as posting to social media that they felt the ground shake in Norfolk and Virginia Beach at two distinctly different times - once at around 4:20 p.m. and again shortly after 6 p.m.
The website for the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that there have been no earthquakes recorded in our area in the past 24 hours.
Phone calls placed to area emergency dispatchers found no actual reports of earthquakes, or damage from whatever the shaking was.
A 2.5 magnitude earthquake was reported outside Richmond about three weeks ago.
You can view realtime reports from the USGS on their website.
A news release last week from the Navy indicated that they would be conducting "intensive day and night flight operations" through the first week of April.
The release went on to say: "These flight operations, which include Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) conducted at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress in Chesapeake, Virginia, are necessary for two Navy Carrier Air Wings and the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) to complete required aircraft carrier pre-deployment and sustainment training. Night flight operations are expected to continue past midnight during this period. "
In the past, military aircraft breaking the sound barrier have caused a sonic boom which some thought was an earthquake. However, there's no definitive indication that these operations were the source of the shaking.
You can view realtime reports from the USGS on their website.
According to NASA....
When flying close to the speed of sound or at the speed of sound (Mach 1), the airflow around an aircraft acts differently than at slower speeds. As the aircraft moves through the air it makes pressure waves. These pressure waves stream out away from the aircraft at the speed of sound. This wave acts just like the ripples through water after a stone is dropped in the middle of a still pond. At Mach 1 or during transonic speed (Mach 0.7 - 0.9), the aircraft actually catches up with its own pressure waves. These pressure waves turn into one big shock wave. It is this shock wave that buffets the airplane. The shock wave also creates high drag on the airplane and slows the airplane's speed. As the airplane passes through the shock wave it is moving faster than the sound it makes. The shock wave forms an invisible cone of sound that stretches out toward the ground. When the shock wave hits the ground it causes a sonic boom that sounds like a loud thunderclap.
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