Tuesday, Mar 19 2024
All Cities
Choose Your City
'I love Siberian women, they are incredible'
0

Dozens of new craters suspected in northern Russia

By 0 and 0 and 0
23 February 2015

0

B1 - famous Yamal hole in 30 kilometres from Bovanenkovo, spotted in 2014 by helicopter pilots. Pictures: Marya Zulinova, Yamal regional government's press service

Respected Moscow scientist Professor Vasily Bogoyavlensky has called for 'urgent' investigation of the new phenomenon amid safety fears.

Until now, only three large craters were known about in northern Russia with several scientific sources speculating last year 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, so causing the formation of these craters in Arctic regions. 

Two of the newly-discovered large craters - also known as funnels to scientists - have turned into lakes, revealed Professor Bogoyavlensky, deputy director of the Moscow-based Oil and Gas Research Institute, part of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

Examination using satellite images has helped Russian experts understand that the craters are more widespread than was first realised, with one large hole surrounded by as many as 20 mini-craters, The Siberian Times can reveal.

Map of Arctic craters

Four arctic craters: B1 - famous Yamal hole in 30 kilometres from Bovanenkovo, B2 - recently detected crater in 10 kilometres to the south from Bovanenkovo, B3 - crater located in 90 kilometres from Antipayuta village, B4 - crater located near Nosok village, on the north of Krasnoyarsk region, near Taimyr Peninsula. Picture: Vasily Bogoyavlensky

'We know now of seven craters in the Arctic area,' he said. 'Five are directly on the Yamal peninsula, one in Yamal Autonomous district, and one is on the north of the Krasnoyarsk region, near the Taimyr peninsula. 

'We have exact locations for only four of them. The other three were spotted by reindeer herders. But I am sure that there are more craters on Yamal, we just need to search for them. 

'I would compare this with mushrooms: when you find one mushroom, be sure there are few more around. I suppose there could be 20 to 30 craters more.'

He is anxious to investigate the craters further because of serious concerns for safety in these regions.

The study of satellite images showed that near the famous hole, located in 30 kilometres from Bovanenkovo are two potentially dangerous objects, where the gas emission can occur at any moment.

Yamal hole

Satellite image of the site before the forming of the Yamal hole (B1). K1 and the red outline show the hillock (pingo) formed before the gas emission. Yellow outlines show the potentially dangerous objects. Picture: Vasily Bogoyavlensky

He warned: 'These objects need to be studied, but it is rather dangerous for the researchers. We know that there can occur a series of gas emissions over an extended period of time, but we do not know exactly when they might happen.

'For example, you all remember the magnificent shots of the Yamal crater in winter, made during the latest expedition in Novomber 2014. But do you know that Vladimir Pushkarev, director of the Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration, was the first man in the world who went down the crater of gas emission? 

'More than this, it was very risky, because no one could guarantee there would not be new emissions.'

Professor Bogoyavlensky told The Siberian Times: 'One of the most interesting objects here is the crater that we mark as B2, located 10 kilometres to the south of Bovanenkovo. On the satellite image you can see that it is one big lake surrounded by more than 20 small craters filled with water. 

'Studying the satellite images we found out that initially there were no craters nor a lake. Some craters appeared, then more. Then, I suppose that the craters filled with water and turned to several lakes, then merged into one large lake, 50 by 100 metres in diameter. 

'This big lake is surrounded by the network of  more than 20 'baby' craters now filled with water and I suppose that new ones could appear last summer or even now. We now counting them and making a catalogue. Some of them are very small, no more than 2 metres in diameter.'

Lake and small craters around

Satellite images showing pingo before the gas emission on the object B2 (top). Lake formed here at the place of the number of craters and the network of more than 20 'baby' craters around (bottom). Picture: Vasily Bogoyavlensky

'We have not been at the spot yet,' he said. 'Probably some local reindeer herders were there, but so far no scientists.'

He explained: 'After studying this object I am pretty sure that there was a series of gas emissions over an extended period of time. Sadly, we do not know, when exactly these emissions occur, i.e. mostly in summer, or in winter too. We see only the results of this emissions.'

The object B2 is now attracting special attention from the researchers as they seek to understand and explain the phenomenon. This is only 10km from Bovanenkovo, a major gas field, developed by Gazprom, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Yet older satellite images do not show the existence of a lake, nor any craters, in this location. 

Not only the new craters constantly forming on Yamal show that the process of gas emission is ongoing actively.

Professor Bogoyavlensky shows the picture of one of the Yamal lakes, taken by him from the helicopter and points on the whitish haze on its surface. 

Lake with degassation

Yamal lake with traces of gas emissions. Picture: Vasily Bogoyavlensky

He commented: 'This haze that you see on the surface shows that gas seeps that go from the bottom of the lake to the surface. We call this process 'degassing'. 

'We do not know, if there was a crater previously and then turned to lake, or the lake formed during some other process. More important is that the gases from within are actively seeping through this lake.

'Degassing was revealed on the territory of Yamal Autonomous District about 45 years ago, but now we think that it can give us some clues about the formation of the craters and gas emissions. Anyway, we must research this phenomenon urgently, to prevent possible disasters.'

Professor Bogoyavlensky stressed: 'For now, we can speak only about the results of our work in the laboratory, using the images from space. 

'No one knows what is happening in these craters at the moment. We plan a new expedition. Also we want to put not less than four seismic stations in Yamal district, so they can fix small earthquakes, that occur when the crater appears. 

'In two cases locals told us that they felt earth tremors. The nearest seismic station was yet too far to register these tremors.

View of the crater in Antipayuta


Big hole on Taymyr near Nosok

Crater B3 located in 90 kilometres from Antipayuta village, Yamal district (top). Crater B4 located near Nosok village, on the north of Krasnoyarsk region, near Taimyr Peninsula. Pictures: Local residents

'I think that at the moment we know enough about the crater B1. There were several expeditions, we took probes and made measurements. I believe that we need to visit the other craters, namely B2, B3 and B4, and then visit the rest three craters, when we will know their exact location. It will give us more information and will bring us closer to understanding the phenomenon.'

He urged: 'It is important not to scare people, but to understand that it is a very serious problem and we must research this.'

In an article for Drilling and Oil magazine, Professor Bogoyavlensky said the parapet of these craters suggests an underground explosion.

'The absence of charred rock and traces of  significant erosion due to possible water leaks speaks in favour of mighty eruption (pneumatic exhaust) of gas from a shallow underground reservoir, which left no traces on soil which contained a high percentage of ice,' he wrote. 

'In other words, it was a gas-explosive mechanism that worked there. A concentration of 5-to-16% of methane is explosive. The most explosive concentration is 9.5%.'

Yamal crater in summer


Yamal crater in summer

'The parapet of these craters suggests an underground explosion.' Pictures of Yamal crater taken by Vasily Bogoyavlensky

Gas probably concentrated underground in a cavity 'which formed due to the gradual melting of buried ice'. Then 'gas was replacing ice and water'.

'Years of experience has shown that gas emissions can cause serious damage to drilling rigs, oil and gas fields and offshore pipelines,' he said. 'Yamal craters are inherently similar to pockmarks. 

'We cannot rule out new gas emissions in the Arctic and in some cases they can ignite.'

This was possible in the case of the crater found at Antipayuta, on the Yamal peninsula. 

'The Antipayuta residents told how they saw some flash. Probably the gas ignited when appeared the crater B4, near Taimyr peninsula. This shows us, that such explosion could be rather dangerous and destructive. 

'We need to answer now the basic questions: what areas and under what conditions are the most dangerous? These questions are important for safe operation of the northern cities and infrastructure of oil and gas complexes.'

Exclusive new pictures INSIDE mystery Siberian crater


Exclusive new pictures INSIDE mystery Siberian crater


Exclusive new pictures INSIDE mystery Siberian crater


Exclusive new pictures INSIDE mystery Siberian crater


Exclusive new pictures INSIDE mystery Siberian crater


Exclusive new pictures INSIDE mystery Siberian crater

The latest expedition to Yamal crater was initiated by the Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration in early November 2014. The researchers were first in the world who went down the crater of gas emission. Pictures: Vladimir Pushkarev/Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration 

Pingos are mounds with an ice core found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.

They can reach up to 70 metres (230 ft) in height and up to 600 m (2,000 ft) in diameter. They usually appear when groundwaters penetrate between permafrost and the top layer, which melts in summer season. They usually form in drained lakes or river channels. 

However, gas is not a factor in their creation. 

See previous stories on the craters:

Large crater appears at the 'end of the world'

First pictures from inside the 'crater at the end of the world'

Now two NEW large holes appear in Siberia

Foreign scientists welcome to join research into Siberia's mysterious giant holes 

Siberian exploding holes 'are the key to Bermuda Triangle'

Exclusive new pictures INSIDE Siberian crater

Now Siberian craters could provide energy of future

How global warming could turn Siberia into a giant crater 'time bomb'

Comments (75)

The answer is very simple and the phenomenon is well studied. Knowledgeable geologist are not being allowed to speak because global warming is politically correct and kimberlite pipes are not.
Chad Erickson, United States
03/01/2021 05:36
0
2
sounds a lot like mother nature reaching up to take what she needs to keep her balance
pole now moving toward Siberia , rich in ?
harry van den broek, mulmur canada
06/02/2019 03:19
0
0
Consider, mother nature hates straight lines and clean circles.
These all bare similarity and they all go straight down in what looks like an even circle.
That's not how natural phenomenon work. They are messy. Nature is messy.
These look to be manufactured. Why were there none sideways or deformed?
There's something we've not been told about this yet. Clearly information is missing or omitted.
JoeMama, 123PhakeSt
01/08/2017 16:44
6
8
That thermonuclear energy being released from those dark stars is coming to the surface in seemingly levels as it escapes the planet. Perhaps the construction design of the sub crust allows for this activity. In most places it would be an even spread out blanket of warm gases. I believe this activity was responsible for the melting of the perma frost in North America . If my theory is correct stranger will be tomorrow
Ronnie Lee , North Carolina USA
10/06/2016 23:54
3
5
Is there any holes like these that pre-date these by thousands of years ? My opinion these are a type release valve for an increase of thermal activity inside our PLANET. Does earth have dark stars that control thermal activity and gravity along with magnetics ? Maybe they have changed like stars change. These stars at the molecular /chemical levels weren't light oriented and most likely helped form earth. If my theory is correct carbon increases are not man-made and large lava lakes will form some where . THE END
Ronnie Lee , Goldsboro N C - USA
10/06/2016 23:35
3
5
Very bad news, the Siberian tundra destabilizing, releasing methane as well as CO2. And yes, it should be noticeable in for example Canada too. Then again, if those in power want to believe otherwise they will put a spin on it. But it's not really news, the Russians have had problems with their pipelines for years now, as the frozen tundra becomes a bog. Russia believes global warming to give them a boom as Sirberia gets warmer, I think they're wrong. And then you have the shallow arctic waters, also releasing methane.
Yoron, Stockholm
13/01/2016 23:55
5
3
A similar 'hole' apparently exists in northwest Canada. Any possibilty Siberia and that portion of Canada
may be on the sub-geologic plane?
Control code 9998 I see, but cannot apply where this comment section requires.
Howcum?
Patrick Malone, Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos BCS Mexico
23/07/2015 07:40
2
4
Why are we even mentioning lightning? Lol. These holes are from gas emissions under the ice. Global warming is warming up the permafrost and releasing gas. The gas builds and builds and has to escape somehow. Boom, big hole. And someone asked why this is a big deal... Well, the more gas that escapes from underneath the glaciers permafrost, the higher the chance for runaway global warming. Which in turn is irreversible. There is enough methane locked under the ice to kill this planet several times over.. So yea it's a big deal.
Jd,
07/06/2015 09:09
17
5
Very simple reason: (Gog and Magog are digging continuously)
Yaks , Uzbekistan
15/05/2015 04:28
4
3
I don't understand what the Big Deal is. Looking at Google Satellite maps of the Yamalsky District and beyond there are hundreds if not thousands of round holes or lakes of all shapes and sizes. Looks that this kind of stuff has happened for thousands of years. It's just now there a few new ones. See this link https://www.google.com/maps/@67.7615639,71.4697642,83914m/data=!3m1!1e3
Michael, Texas
02/05/2015 21:29
9
8
I just saw a new theory on Internet that explains this mystery well. http://www.cipherverse.com/2015/04/2015-addendum-to-siberian-yamal-craters-theories-and-coverups/ I do not know, but it convinces me some. Maybe the craters really do come from patriotic defence activities. If so it is sad that many people have to suffer from radioactivity. I hope researchers discover the real truth because maybe the truth is stranger than the fiction.
Oleg Kozlov, Cleveland Ohio
16/04/2015 11:25
4
12
Similar holes with the very very smooth sides have appeared all over the world even in the middle of cities I doubt this is gas being struck by lightening. Also I believe the dirt up top is evidence of it falling in, others believe this to be evidence of something coming out. It seems to me this is evidence of the crust stretching or moving. But why the super smooth walls? Please don't say its methane gas, and dismiss it. Where has this been recorded of before in history? Seems like something new.
Great Lee, UT, USA
16/03/2015 19:02
3
10
IF you look at each sink hole, you'll notice an "upward" rim of soil that is inconsistent with earth falling/sinking into a hole, rather, this is more consistent with something exiting from the hole! Now you should ask yourself what could is it that's coming out?
John Franks, Cape Coral Fl.
14/03/2015 21:51
7
5
How long will it be before they appear in Alaska??
sallerup, madison, alabama
13/03/2015 21:38
7
3
my first thought on seeing one of these was it was caused by a lightning strike, causing a shock melting of the permafrost. Seeing that they come in all sizes I now think that some microbial activity begins to digest some fraction of the permafrost, possibly the methane but also possibly some vegetable or animal matter trapped in the ground. A microbial system develops and grows and generates enough energy to slowly melt the ice. Under pressure the process continues and grows upward towards ground level eventually blowing off the top few meters in a low level explosion, which may or may not ignite. Nothing much to do with global warming, although that may increase the depth at which the ground cover gives way. There could be dozens of these of all sizes scattered across prone terrain. Some type of radar scanning of a specific area should give a reasonable idea of the extent of the problem.
johnm, uk
09/03/2015 00:46
6
10

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR100.24USD91.98GBP117.19Other...