There's been a dramatic fall in the noise generated by human activity in Ireland as a result of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown measures.
So-called 'seismic noise’ levels are up to three times lower now, according to measurements taken by the Geophysics section of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
Scientists at DIAS describe seismic noise as human-made volcanoes. Dr Martin Mollhoff, director of Seismic Networks at DIAS, said: "Our day-to-day lives result in small ground movements – for example, by cars, trains, building sites and other industries.
These human-induced vibrations, called seismic noise by seismologists, vary with the human activity." He says the worldwide social restrictions are affecting not only levels of air