Giant crater appears in far northern Siberia

Russian scientists say they believe a 60-meter (66-yard) wide crater discovered recently in far northern Siberia could be the result of changing temperatures in the region.

Russian scientists said that they believe the 60-meter wide crater, discovered recently
 in far northern Siberia, could be the result of changing temperatures in the region. 
Andrei Plekhanov, a senior researcher at the Scientific Research Center of the Arctic, 
traveled on Wednesday to the crater. Plekhanov said 80 percent of the crater appeared
 to be made up of ice and that there were no traces of an explosion, eliminating
 the possibility that a meteorite had struck the region [Credit: AP]

Andrei Plekhanov, a senior researcher at the Scientific Research Center of the Arctic, told the AP Thursday that the crater was mostly likely the result of a "build-up of excessive pressure" underground due to rising temperatures in the region.

Plekhanov on Wednesday traveled to the crater, some 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) from the Bovanenkovo gas field in the far northern Yamal peninsula. He said 80 percent of the crater appeared to be made up of ice and that there were no traces of an explosion, eliminating the possibility that a meteorite had struck the region.

Source: The Associated Press [July 19, 2014]