Sensors at the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics at the University of Granada (UGR), located in the city, recorded the moments of euphoria during the match

Spain’s World Cup victory has been recorded on seismic accelerograms, which measure the acceleration of ground movement. In Granada, some of these sensors are located on the Cartuja Campus, at the Faculty of Sciences, in the Science Park and at the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting. They form part of the hundred or so systems connected to the Andalusian Seismic Network.

All of them indicate a particularly intense movement when, at almost midnight on Sunday night into Monday morning, the final against Argentina came to an end – the moment when the Spanish national team became world champions for the second time in history, after winning 1–0.

At that very moment, the sensors recorded an acceleration in ground movement.

“Naturally, this type of ground motion cannot be considered to reach the intensity of an earthquake, but it does yield striking data,” explains Mercedes Feriche Fernández-Castanys, a researcher at the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics and Seismic Disaster Prevention at the University of Granada (UGR).

Ferran Torres’s historic goal in the 106th minute, at the start of the second half of extra time, is the other notable moment detected by the accelerograms. The same applies to the goal previously disallowed for Spanish winger Nico Williams. In both instances, the systems recorded an acceleration in ground movement.

“This phenomenon has been observed in cities across the country and is a striking way of measuring the euphoria caused by an event that mobilises the whole of Spain and makes the nation leap for joy,” explains specialist Mercedes Feriche.