Found a new research carried out in Sweden Surprisingly high methane emission From Europe’s largest meteorite ditch. Silgen’s ring is a structure Prehistoric impact Located in the center of Sweden, measuring about 52 km diameter. There are many lakes in the region, the largest of them is Chiljan, at the end of the southwest.
All winters form a thick ice layer in Silgen Lake, except for some strange and continuous points. These stains are open, called “Ice Steels”, They confused the locals for many years. Why did they always appear in the same places? What did these snow -free holes maintain even with the cold of the iceberg?
Now, the new study of scientists at the Salmers de Sweden University invented these open points They are miraculously releasing large amounts of methane.
“Silgen Ring Lakes seem to be the natural methane emission Much more than known“, Professor of the University’s Optical Registry, Johann Melkwist explains.” In some cases, we record 300 times more broadcast rates than in the lakes. “
Why do these natural leaks confuse scientists?
The underwater degeneration of the organic material produces methane in all water masses. The extraordinary thing about the situation of Siljan High enriched nature In the discovery of the discovery.
Generally, methane in the lakes is produced in the form of “bubble emission”, scattered leaks that appear in different locations on the surface. However, the results of Siljan suggest a very strong and localized leaks They make gas blums Findable in the air.
“This is extraordinary – and very peculiar – the emission is very located,” says the Melkwist. “Let us know. It’s never measured in a lake A methane leak So concentrated. So far, we have only examined only a small portion of the Chiligen ring lakes. We may only see the tip of the iceberg. “
Researchers created a new method of detecting Methane escapesUsing tracer gas to monitor emission. It allowed to identify the “heated spots” concentrated in the lake, and found two points of 10 square meters, where the emission was very high, and with many small sources.
They made a visit in 2023, and in 2024, they found on two occasions The same extreme emission. This is a continuous issue, as this place produces 3.5 tonnes of methane per year.
Methane a Powerful greenhouse gas3.5 tonnes of 85 tonnes of CO2. It is equivalent to driving a petrol car for over 300,000 km from Stockholm to Sydney.
Where does methane emissions come from?
Researchers They are still not sure where the emission is formed fromBut they work to find out. One theory is that the proof can be the “deep gas” of the soil. This is related to impact Meteorite In Chiljan, which can bring organic material to the depths of the earth, methane continues to produce.
If this source is identified, the situation may be exclusive to the cylinder ring. However, if the source is found to be less deeply sedresses, These emissions may still be in many places.
Researchers will now map a large portion of Siljan and continue to investigate In other lakes nearby. His invention of how the world responds to draining natural gas from the rocks may have impacts beyond Siljan.
“If future studies reveal large -scale emissions, Attempts may be justified to reduce them“Melkwist says. If these types of leaks occur in other lakes, it indicates that it is underestimated from natural sources. Climate crisis intensifies.
