Sudden and Violent Explosions Unearth Massive Siberian Permafrost Craters – Scientists Unravel the Mystery

A series of abrupt and forceful explosions have resulted in the creation of enormous craters in the permafrost of Siberia, some measuring nearly 70 feet wide and over 170 feet deep. Since the discovery of the first of these exploding craters in 2012, scientists have been perplexed by the phenomenon.

A recent study, yet to undergo peer review but available online, claims to have cracked the mystery. The researchers attribute the phenomenon to a substantial buildup of hot natural gas beneath the permafrost, breaking through the once impermeable layer of frozen earth due to rising temperatures.

Lead author Helge Hellevang at the University of Oslo in Norway stated, “Climate change is likely the triggering factor, but it happens there because you have the thinning of the permafrost due to the gas.”

Moreover, these exploding craters could unleash considerable amounts of previously unaccounted for methane emissions, contributing to global warming and causing damage to local oil and gas infrastructure.

Gas Leak

Contrary to previous beliefs that these craters were caused by methane released by thawing permafrost, Hellevang argues that this explanation doesn’t address why the explosions are specific to Siberia and Northern Russia. He contends that the permafrost wouldn’t contain sufficient methane to generate explosions of such magnitude.

Instead, the researchers propose that the methane originates from hot natural gas released deep within the Earth, possibly from a geological fault. As the gas accumulates, it gradually thaws the permafrost, with rising temperatures above the surface further weakening it.

The outcome is a sudden breakthrough of gas, resulting in a spectacular rupture that propels earth and ice in every direction.

“I think their idea makes sense,” remarked Lauren Schurmeir at the University of Hawai’i, who has also conducted research on the craters but was not part of this study.

Plot Holes

However, there are some caveats. Schurmeir notes that Hellevang’s work lacks support from observations on an actual crater, of which only eight have been discovered so far. She suggests that there could be multiple causes behind them.

If the new research is accurate, it implies that the exploding craters may be emitting substantial amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

“If that’s the standard way that large accumulations fail, then you’re dumping a lot of methane in a very short time,” warned Thomas Birchall at the University of Svalbard, who recently published a paper on methane trapped in Norway’s permafrost.

Hellevang acknowledges the potential impact of these explosions but advises against overestimating it. With limited observations, it remains unclear how much methane might be escaping. Further research is needed to establish a more realistic estimate of the methane released due to atmospheric heating or climate change.