Experts Reveal the Mystery of the Giant Russian 'Hell Hole' That Triggered World Heat
The appearance of a 'hell hole' in Russia that contributes to greenhouse gases. (Photo: AFP/VASILY BOGOYAVLENSKY)
-- A new theory is able to explain the phenomenon of the emergence of a 'hell hole' in Russia which is also triggering heat in the world. The answer lies in the Siberian landscape and the 'Champagne effect' theory.
There are unique craters on Russia's northern Yamal and Gydan peninsulas, as well as elsewhere in the Arctic region.
Researchers have proposed various theories to explain the phenomenon of their emergence but they are not enough to answer the reason for the existence of this 'hell hole'.
In a preprint paper published on ArXiv's Earth database, researchers reveal the key to the puzzle lies in the landforms.
However, historic lake models fail to account for the fact that these "giant escape craters" (GEC) are found in a variety of geological settings across the peninsula, not all of which were once covered by lakes, according to the yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study.
Previous research also linked the craters to the accumulation of natural gas in the ice sheet, but this could not explain why the holes were only found in northern Russia.
"Thus, the formation of the GEC suggests conditions specific to the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas," the researchers wrote in a preprint paper.
Quoting Space, the ice layers on the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas vary in thickness from tens to hundreds of meters. The land probably froze more than 40,000 years ago and trapped ancient marine sediments rich in methane.
This methane slowly turns into huge reserves of natural gas, generating heat and melting the bottom layer of ice and leaving pockets of gas at the bottom.
Permafrost in Russia and other countries is also seeking to surface due to climate change. In locations with a thin layer of ice, on the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas, melting and pressure from the gas caused the remaining ice layer to collapse, triggering explosions.
The 'champagne effect' explains the presence of a small bottom around the giant crater due to large chunks of ice thrown up by the explosion.
According to researchers, the release of natural gas and methane during these explosions could activate a climate feedback loop if global temperatures continue to rise.
"The formation of GECs (giant escape craters) has been linked to global climate change, with increasing temperatures in summer and autumn resulting in warming and degradation of ice sheets," the researchers wrote.
The authors estimate that 1,900 billion tons (1,700 billion metric tons) of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are stored in the Arctic ice sheet. Increasing emissions from melting permafrost are "of great concern."
Ahli Bongkar Misteri 'Lubang Neraka' Raksasa Rusia Pemicu Panas Dunia
Penampakan 'lubang neraka' di Rusia yang ikut menyumbang gas rumah kaca. (Foto: AFP/VASILY BOGOYAVLENSKY)
-- Sebuah teori baru mampu menjelaskan fenomena kemunculan 'lubang neraka' di Rusia yang turut memicu panas di dunia. Jawabannya ada pada bentang alam Siberia dan teori 'Champagne effect'.
Terdapat kawah-kawah unik di semenanjung Yamal dan Gydan bagian utara Rusia, juga di tempat lain di kawasan Kutub Utara.
Para peneliti telah mengajukan aneka teori untuk menjelaskan fenomena kemunculan mereka tapi tidak cukup menjawab alasan keberadaan 'lubang neraka' tersebut.
Sebuah makalah pracetak yang diterbitkan di database Earth ArXiv, peneliti mengungkap kunci teka-teki ini ada pada bentang alamnya.
Kawah menganga 'mulut ke neraka' di Siberia Rusia (Foto: Alexander Gabyshev)
Namun, model danau bersejarah gagal menjelaskan fakta bahwa "giant escape craters" (GEC) ini ditemukan di berbagai pengaturan geologis di seluruh semenanjung, yang tidak semuanya pernah ditutupi oleh danau, menurut studi yang belum ditinjau oleh rekan sejawat (peer-review) itu.
Penelitian sebelumnya juga mengaitkan kawah-kawah tersebut dengan akumulasi gas alam di dalam lapisan es, tapi ini tidak dapat menjelaskan mengapa lubang-lubang tersebut hanya ditemukan di Rusia utara.
"Dengan demikian, pembentukan GEC menunjukkan kondisi khusus untuk semenanjung Yamal dan Gydan," tulis para peneliti dalam makalah pracetak.
Mengutip Space, lapisan es di semenanjung Yamal dan Gydan punya ketebalan bervariasi mulai dari puluhan sampai ratusan meter. Tanah tersebut mungkin membeku lebih dari 40 ribu tahun lalu dan memenjarakan sedimen laut purba yang kaya akan metana.
Metana ini perlahan berubah menjadi cadangan gas alam yang sangat besar, menghasilkan panas dan melelehkan lapisan es bawah lalu meninggalkan kantong gas di dasar.
Permafrost di Rusia dan negara lain juga mencari di permukaan akibat perubahan iklim. Di lokasi dengan lapisan es tipis, di semenanjung Yamal dan Gydan, pencairan dan tekanan dari gas membuat lapisan es yang tersisa runtuh lalu memicu ledakan.
'Efek sampanye' menjelaskan keberadaan bawah kecil di sekitar kawah raksasa karena bongkahan es besar terlempar akibat ledakan.
Menurut peneliti, pelepasan gas alam dan metana selama ledakan ini bisa mengaktifkan putaran umpan balik iklim jika suhu global terus meningkat.
"Pembentukan GEC (giant escape crater) telah dikaitkan dengan perubahan iklim global, dengan peningkatan suhu di musim panas dan musim gugur yang mengakibatkan pemanasan dan degradasi lapisan es," tulis peneliti.
Penulis memperkirakan 1.900 miliar ton (1.700 miliar metrik ton) gas rumah kaca, termasuk karbon dioksida dan metana, tersimpan di lapisan es Arktik. Meningkatnya emisi dari pencairan lapisan es pun "menjadi perhatian besar."