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Exclusive new pictures INSIDE Siberian crater
By
Anna Liesowska
12
November, 2014
A
mission this week to the newly-formed crater on the Yamal Peninsula
in northern Siberia is expected throw fresh light on how this and
other such phenomenon were formed. Experts are working on a theory
that gas hydrates caused underground explosions in the same way as
eruptions under the Atlantic Ocean may have led to the Bermuda
Triangle phenomenon.
Our
new pictures show how, for the first time, scientists used climbing
equipment to reach the base of the crater - a lake at least 10.5
metres deep with a frozen surface.
Leader
of the new mission, Vladimir Pushkarev, director of the Russian
Centre of Arctic Exploration, told The Siberian Times: 'We managed to
go down into the funnel, all was successful. We used climbing
equipment, and it is easier to do this in winter, than in summer,
with the ground now hard.
'We
took all the probes we planned, and made measurements. Now scientists
need time to process all the data and only then can they draw
conclusions.'
The
funnel of the crater is about 16.5 metres deep, not including an
earthen rampart on the surface, formed in the blowout, of several
metres in height.
t
is possible other such phenomenon existed but were not noticed
earlier. Pictures: Vladimir Pushkarev/Russian Centre of Arctic
Exploration
At
the base is a frozen lake. 'The depth of the mini-lake is about 10.5
metres but it can be deeper. We are waiting for the exact information
from readings taken by the scientists', Vladimir Pushkarev said.
The
research to the largest of three known holes - all recently formed -
in northern Siberia was initiated by the Russian Centre of Arctic
Exploration, and included experts from a number of institutes. 'They
did radiolocation tests at a depth of 200 metres, took probes of ice,
ground, gases, and air. Now they all went back to their institutes
and labs and will work on the material. The next stage is processing
of the gathered information.
'Then
we plan to explore the surrounding area, comparing images from space,
and even those taken in the 1980s, to understand if there are - or
were - some similar objects'.
It
is possible other such phenomenon existed but were not noticed
earlier.
r.
'As
of now we don't see anything dangerous in the sudden appearance of
such holes'. Pictures: Vladimir Pushkarev/Russian Centre of Arctic
Exploration
Mr
Pushkarev claimed it is too early to draw conclusions on theories on
the crater's formation, including the suggestion from Russian
scientist Igor Yeltsov, the deputy head of the Trofimuk Institute,
that heating from above the surface due to unusually warm climatic
conditions, and from below, due to geological fault lines, led to a
huge release of gas hydrates, causing the eruption.
When
the crater was first highlighted, earlier this year, it stoked many
different theories including a manmade hoax, the work of aliens from
outer space, a meteorite or even a stray missile. These are now
discounted.
'I've
heard about this Bermuda Triangle idea, but I repeat, our scientists
need to work on materials first and only then draw some definite
conclusions. At the moment we don't have enough information,' said Mr
Pushkarev, a climber, rescuer and explorer who led the experts to the
scene in temperatures of minus 11C.
'We
haven't worked with other funnels yet. We plan to do this, but first
of all we need to understand completely the nature of this very
funnel to be able to create a model which then we'll use to compare
with other craters'.
The
research to the largest of three known holes was initiated by the
Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration. Pictures: Vladimir
Pushkarev/Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration
Mr
Pushkarev stated: 'As of now we don't see anything dangerous in the
sudden appearance of such holes, but we've got to study them properly
to make absolutely sure we understand the nature of their appearance
and don't need to be afraid about them'.
Gas
hydrates are ice-like forms of water containing gas molecules,
notably methane. They exist in permafrost regions such as northern
Siberia, but also under the oceans in some parts of the world.
'The
main element - and this is our working theory to explain the Yamal
crater - was a release of gas hydrates. It turned out that there are
gas hydrates both in the deep layer which on peninsula is several
hundred metres down, and on the layer close to the surface', said
scientist Vladimir Potapov before the latest expedition. 'There might
be another factor, or factors, that could have provoked the air clap.
Each of the factors added up and gas exploded, leading to appearance
of the crater.'
He
stressed: 'The crater is located on the intersection of two tectonic
faults. Yamal peninsula is seismically quiet, yet the area of the
crater we looked into has quite an active tectonic life. That means
that the temperature there was higher than usual.'
The
name Yamal means 'the end of the world', which ironically is also a
description applied to the Bermuda Triangle for those lost on boats
and planes. The areas stretches from the British Overseas Territory
in the North Atlantic Ocean to the Florida coast, to Puerto Rico.
Professor
Yeltsov said: 'There is a version that the Bermuda Triangle is a
consequence of gas hydrates reactions. They start to actively
decompose with methane ice turning into gas. It happens in an
avalanche-like way, like a nuclear reaction, producing huge amounts
of gas. That makes ocean to heat up and ships sink in its waters
mixed with a huge proportion of gas.
'The
same leads to the air to get supersaturated with methane, which makes
the atmosphere extremely turbulent and lead to aircraft crashes'.
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