### Professor Unpacks ‘Induced Atmospheric Vibration’ Claim Following Spain’s Widespread Blackout
Widespread power outages plunged millions across Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France into disruption on Monday, 28th April 2025, raising questions about the vulnerabilities of Europe’s interconnected energy systems and sparking debate over the causes behind such a monumental failure. While power has now been restored in most affected regions, the blackout’s ripple effects were felt in every aspect of daily life, from halted traffic systems and disabled ATMs to confined commuters trapped in trains and lifts.
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, acknowledged that the precise trigger for the blackout remains under investigation. Initial reporting pointed to a rare event, with Portugal’s electricity grid operator, REN, being quoted as attributing the outage to a phenomenon known as “induced atmospheric vibration.” However, in the days that followed, REN distanced itself from this explanation, leaving the public seeking clarity.
Shedding light on the situation, Professor Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, an expert in electrical engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, offered insight into the complex ways in which atmospheric conditions and weather events can impact energy infrastructures. He highlighted that weather is a dominant factor behind power outages globally. In the United States alone, weather-related events accounted for a staggering 83% of all reported blackouts between 2000 and 2021.
Professor Seyedmahmoudian elaborated on the many ways meteorological conditions interfere with electricity supply. Events such as cyclones can physically destroy transmission lines, while intense heatwaves may demand more from the power grid than it can safely supply. Wildfires also present a severe risk by destroying key equipment, and strong winds can induce various vibrations in power lines—ranging from the low-frequency, high-amplitude ‘conductor galloping’ to the higher-frequency, lower-amplitude ‘aeolian vibrations.’
These vibrations, the professor explained, are far from trivial, representing serious engineering challenges. If severe enough, they can introduce extra stress on vital grid infrastructure, possibly culminating in widespread outages. Operators frequently turn to stabilising devices like “stock bridge dampers” to mitigate these vibrational threats.
The term “induced atmospheric vibration” itself is not firmly rooted in scientific literature, but in this context, it appears to be a catch-all for a family of atmospheric disturbances linked to rapid shifts in air pressure or temperature. According to Professor Seyedmahmoudian, what might be described as induced atmospheric vibration could stem from events like heatwaves or even large-scale bushfires, which dramatically alter the temperature of the Earth’s surface. As hot air rises rapidly, it disrupts the equilibrium with the surrounding cooler air, sending ripples—reminiscent of waves on a pond—through the atmosphere.
Such waves, known formally as gravity waves, thermal oscillations, or acoustic-gravity waves, can, in rare circumstances, interact with overhead transmission lines, potentially causing synchronisation issues within power grids. Despite the grand nomenclature, the existence and effect of these waves are well-researched phenomena, if not commonly referenced by the public or grid operators. What is essential, the professor stressed, is not simply the presence of high temperatures, but rather the speed and scale of temperature shifts, setting the stage for these disturbances.
The blackout in Europe, regardless of the exact initiating factor, serves as a warning about the increasing sensitivities of centralised, highly interconnected electricity networks. As the current trend heads towards greater electrification—with more electric vehicles, heated buildings, and renewable energy sources joining the mix—the legacy grids are straining under loads and conditions they were never designed to bear.
Professor Seyedmahmoudian argues for a fundamental reimagining of how energy is produced and supplied. He advocates for decentralised solutions—like community microgrids—which function independently and are inherently more resilient to both environmental and technical disruptions. Investing in local energy production, he believes, is vital for securing affordable, stable, and robust energy supplies in a future fraught with environmental volatility.
This latest blackout has pushed the conversation about grid resilience and adaptation to the forefront. As society becomes more dependent on reliable electricity, failure to address these systemic vulnerabilities could result in consequences even more severe than those brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iberian blackout, then, acts as both a cautionary tale and a call to action for Europe and the world at large.