A group of scientists now believe they’ve cracked the mystery of Siberia’s strange craters.
These massive holes, some plunging more than 160 feet deep, were first spotted back in 2012 across Yamal and Gydan in western Siberia. When they open up, they blast soil and chunks of ice high into the air, leaving behind a scene that looks almost otherworldly.
For over ten years, experts argued about what might be causing them. Some thought it could be meteor strikes. Others suspected underground gas explosions. But those theories didn’t add up, because the craters weren’t showing up all across the Arctic—only in a very specific part of Siberia.
A recent study published in Science of the Total Environment points to two main culprits: hidden gas reserves beneath the ground and warmer temperatures linked to climate change.
Here’s how it likely works: heat and gas build up deep underground. As the frozen surface layer above begins to thaw and weaken, pressure builds until—boom—the ground bursts open, leaving a giant crater behind.
Researchers say the discovery of eight new gas-emitting craters backs this theory and challenges the earlier explanations. They also believe more of these craters are waiting to be found. Future field studies and computer modeling may confirm the idea.
In short, it’s not meteors from space but the warming Earth itself that seems to be tearing Siberia open.
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