It is an understatement to call sound an important part of human life. It is so important that scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are looking for ways to reverse hearing loss. Although sound plays an important role, it can also be terrible, especially when you see the loudest sound record in history.
Data map
The jet engine is loud. The sound of fireworks is even louder. The sound of a gun can whip your ears like a whip. But what if the loudest sound on earth doesn't come from man-made things? What if the source of this sound happened more than 130 years ago?
On the morning of August 27, 1883, a volcanic eruption began. It is estimated that the sound of volcanic eruptions -- when stones split the earth and shot out of the volcano -- reached 310 decibels (DB). The eruption occurred on the Indonesian island of karakato, which led to the collapse of half the island.
Scientists believe that this is one of the most violent geological events in history. The explosion produced not only a terrible sound shock wave, but also a tsunami wave up to 151 feet and flooded the entire Indian Ocean. These waves shook ships in the ocean as far away as South Africa.
Reports of the loudest voice records in history reached individuals at least 3000 miles away. They described it as "gunfire from nearby ships". Nearly 2233 miles away, ranchers in Alice Springs, Australia, also said they heard an explosion. They say it sounds like someone fired two shots with a rifle.
But why is this sound so important? It is understood that at 310 dB, the sound emitted will far exceed the pain threshold caused by sound. The threshold starts at 140 dB. Therefore, at 310 decibels, the sound emitted will exceed twice the level causing pain.
Therefore, anyone close to the eruption will suffer organ damage and may even die.
In order to further understand the situation, it only takes 150-160 DB to rupture our eardrum. But the eruption of Krakatoa volcano is not just loud enough. It is estimated that the blast wave of this eruption is 10000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
So this eruption is absolutely devastating - not just sound recording. And it's an amazing reminder of how powerful one of the most important senses many of us rely on is actually.