3 ms·

Please edit the title to remove "explosions," because it's definitely not a confined detonation.

simonh 6y ago
Many of the big ones do ignite, which is believed to be caused by electrostatic discharges from friction as the eruption starts. Three of these have been witnessed and they confirmed a bright flash accompanying the eruption.
- ovi256 6y ago
  The ignition can only take place after the mound has been ripped apart and a lot of gas has escaped and mixed with oxygen. There's no oxygen in the underground gas pocket.
  - simonh 6y ago
    So what? You don't need to have detonation in order to have an explosion. However once this thing breaches the surface it does detonate.
    - airhead969 6y ago
      Snark is unnecessary. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Is there any proof of detonation? I can't find any references to that occurring. It seems to be an entirely mechanical process.
      - simonh 6y ago
        Sure, we have eyewitness accounts. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-the-mystery-of-siberias-explosive-craters https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-t... "Local reindeer herders reported seeing flames and smoke after one crater explosion in June 2017" https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bombs-discovered-Arctic-risk-exploding-creating-huge-craters.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bom... "Only three of the 17 known eruptions so far were seen by witnesses, and in each case there was an explosion with fire, said the professor."
- airhead969 6y ago
  Who has witnessed any of them? These are in remote regions and much about them is unknown.
  - simonh 6y ago
    There are only 3 known eyewitness accounts. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-the-mystery-of-siberias-explosive-craters https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-t... "Local reindeer herders reported seeing flames and smoke after one crater explosion in June 2017" https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bombs-discovered-Arctic-risk-exploding-creating-huge-craters.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bom... "Only three of the 17 known eruptions so far were seen by witnesses, and in each case there was an explosion with fire, said the professor."

Many of the big ones do ignite, which is believed to be caused by electrostatic discharges from friction as the eruption starts. Three of these have been witnessed and they confirmed a bright flash accompanying the eruption.

ovi256 6y ago
The ignition can only take place after the mound has been ripped apart and a lot of gas has escaped and mixed with oxygen. There's no oxygen in the underground gas pocket.
- simonh 6y ago
  So what? You don't need to have detonation in order to have an explosion. However once this thing breaches the surface it does detonate.
  - airhead969 6y ago
    Snark is unnecessary. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Is there any proof of detonation? I can't find any references to that occurring. It seems to be an entirely mechanical process.
    - simonh 6y ago
      Sure, we have eyewitness accounts. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-the-mystery-of-siberias-explosive-craters https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-t... "Local reindeer herders reported seeing flames and smoke after one crater explosion in June 2017" https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bombs-discovered-Arctic-risk-exploding-creating-huge-craters.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bom... "Only three of the 17 known eruptions so far were seen by witnesses, and in each case there was an explosion with fire, said the professor."
airhead969 6y ago
Who has witnessed any of them? These are in remote regions and much about them is unknown.
- simonh 6y ago
  There are only 3 known eyewitness accounts. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-the-mystery-of-siberias-explosive-craters https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201130-climate-change-t... "Local reindeer herders reported seeing flames and smoke after one crater explosion in June 2017" https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bombs-discovered-Arctic-risk-exploding-creating-huge-craters.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8705517/430-gas-bom... "Only three of the 17 known eruptions so far were seen by witnesses, and in each case there was an explosion with fire, said the professor."