SCIENTISTS in Siberia are closely monitoring a mysterious rising mound as a spate of fresh craters prompt warnings of spontaneous explosions in the permafrost landscape.
A new expedition by Russia’s Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics has set up seismic monitors and surveillance equipment on the remote Yamal Peninsula in Siberia.
They’ve discovered a mound of soil-covered ice, dubbed a ‘pingo’, which they believe is set to explode ‘at any moment’.
It’s potentially bigger, they say, than the 80m wide crater which sparked the whole investigation.
The phenomenon of Siberia’s ‘hell mouth’ craters leapt to public attention in July last year after helicopter footage of the enormous holes circulated on YouTube.
Up to 20 more have since been identified.
Hellmouth ... Russian scientists say they believe this 80-metre wide crater could be the result of changing temperatures in the Siberian permafrost. Source: APSource:AP
Subsequent surveys by scientists have established the craters are linked to undground methane ponds which appear to be warming — and releasing gas — due to rising temperatures.
The Siberian Times reports investigators are now warning the escaping methane now poses a threat to “towns and cities in the extreme north, and natural gas exploration facilities”.
Dr Igor Yeltsov, deputy director of the institute, is quoted highlighting the proximity of several Yamal holes to natural gas pipelines and infrastructure.
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“We underestimate the danger that methane brings to us,” he said. “I think that now it is premature to speak about some global catastrophe, as if it is a theory of ‘methane threat’, but if the warming continues at the same pace, our northern cities, located close to Yamal — such as Salekhard, Nadym, and Novy Urengoy — are in real danger.”
