Lawnmowers in Kingston heard as far away as Belleville.

Grass. Photo Credit: Liis Saar

 

Belleville residents reported hearing lawnmower sounds coming from the east.

In May, Kingston residents were encouraged to hold off on mowing their lawn in support of No Mow May. This initiative, meant to support bees in their pollination of plants, was brought forward by Councillor Brandon Tozzo and approved by City Council.

The initiative was promoted via social media as well as having lawn signs produced, which residents could place on their lawns to inform their neighbours of the event. As the month went on, residents taking part saw the grass on their lawns grow to great lengths, some even risking becoming nesting grounds for velociraptors. 

As the month drew to a close, many residents started eyeing their lawns and wondering if their lawnmowers, be their gas powered, electric, or manual, would be able to handle the unfettered growth, which in some cases was multiple "Macho Man Randy Savages high", according to one resident.

Photo of Randy Savage action figure from Twitter account @HeyBenMcLean

So, at the start of June, it was no surprise that Kingston residents, eager to trim down their lawns, started up their lawnmowers to cut their lawns. The sound of so many residents doing so created quite an unexpected effect. The City of Belleville began receiving reports of a strange buzzing sound coming from the east. An investigation into this concluded that this was the collective sound of lawnmowers coming from Kingston. 

Sound analyst Blake Audiomann reported that the collective sound of so many lawnmowers across the Kingston area created what is known as the Aringarosa Effect, where similar sounds amplify each other, stimulating air particles that can be carried by the wind. 

 Sound analysts in both cities met to compare data and study this phenomenon together. They concluded that the event had no harmful lasting effects to the public.