Since their earlier discovery in Siberia’s frozen lands, the eight massive and deep holes have sparked numerous speculations about their origins. Reaching depths of around 50 meters, these craters are only found in the Yamal Peninsula and Gydan in northern Russia, and nowhere else in the surrounding area of the Arctic Circle.
Several theories have suggested that they are the result of ancient meteorite explosions. However, a recent study indicates that the holes formed in areas that were previously occupied by historical lakes, from which natural gas emerged from the frozen soil below. With the drying up of these lakes and a decrease in surface temperatures, the gas was trapped and accumulated, leading to explosions and the formation of these deep craters.
The frozen soil thickness in the Yamal Peninsula and Gydan ranges from a few meters to about 500 meters, having been frozen for over 40,000 years, to contain marine sediment rich in methane, accumulating in buried natural gas reservoirs. Naturally, heat emitted from these reservoirs causes the frozen soil to melt from below, forming gas pockets.
Climate change-induced thawing of permafrost soil surfaces, especially in areas with thin thickness, causes the soil to collapse due to gas pressure from below, resulting in explosions.
The researchers suggest the possibility of more undetected vents. Additionally, the release of natural gas and methane from the Earth’s interior during these explosions will exacerbate the greenhouse gas problem, thereby accelerating permafrost soil thawing.
Permafrost soil in the Arctic contains an estimated 1,900 billion tons of greenhouse gases, posing significant concern if these explosions continue to occur.
