The Siberian crater saga is more widespread — and scarier — than anyone thought

[Dingo]

At the end of last summer came news of a bizarre occurrence no one could explain. It was a massive crater that just one day showed up. Early estimates placed it at nearly 100 feet in diameter, nestled deep in Siberia's Yamal Peninsula, a place called "the ends of the Earth."

The saga deepened. The Siberian crater wasn't alone. There were two more, ratcheting up the tension in a drama that hit its climax as a probable explanation surfaced. Global warming had thawed the permafrost, which had caused methane trapped inside the icy ground to explode. "Gas pressure increased until it was high enough to push away the overlaying layers in a powerful injection, forming the crater," one German scientist said at the time.



See the full story here http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-siberian-crater-saga-is-more-widespread-%E2%80%94-and-scarier-%E2%80%94-than-anyone-thought/ar-BBhZntw?ocid=mailsignoutmd

[Sean]

Interesting, would not want to have been standing near that when it blew...    

[Neil G]

Especially if you were lighting up a smoke at the time........