In the northern Siberian area of Yamal, scientists are baffled by the abrupt appearance of an enormous crater said to be 262 feet wide. Researchers are heading there this week to investigate the details of the crater that were posted online last week.
According to the Siberian Times, a scientific team from Russia's Center for the Study of the Arctic and the Cyrosphere Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been sent to investigate the crater and is expected to arrive on Wednesday. Helicopters spotted the astronomic hole over the gas-rich Yamal peninsula, but its depth is unknown. There are a number of claims as to how the crater appeared, but nothing is known for sure, and probably won't be known for a little while.
Speculated causes include global warming, meteorites, a sinkhole caused by collapsing rock, a gas explosion, and UFOs. Although it was only discovered last week, it's believed that the hole has existed for over two years, which is likely to make the diagnosis process more difficult. Surrounding the crater are what appears to be rocks and pieces of the Earth that exploded from within it. Right now a number of signs point to the crater appearing as a result of a gas explosion.
"[Yamal] is one of the most geologically young places on Earth," reports the From Quarks to Quasars blog. "It also happens to be extremely rich in gas. In fact, it contains the largest natural gas reservoir in all of Russia. ... In places with such large concentrations of gas, it's not unusual for underground explosions to rocket off. They occur only when under-soil ice melts and releases a substantial amount of gas."
Additionally, Zvezda TV, the Russian nationwide TV network operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, vaguely reported that the dark color of the crater indicates 'some temperature processes.' Others say the dark color is a result of severe burning. Nonetheless, the team of scientists plan to collect samples of soil, water, and air from the scene of the crater to conduct an in depth analysis. The team will be accompanied by a specialist from Russia's Emergencies Ministry.
A close eye will be kept on the crater as scientists will gather their data and report findings in the immediate future. You can read more about the giant crater in Siberia in this NPR article.
