Abstract
Satellite images taken from the ice surface of Lake Baikal show dark rings 7–8 km in diameter. Physically, this phenomenon can be explained by the emission of warm natural gas from the sedimentary thickness on the Lake Baikal bed. When the natural gas ascends toward the surface, it cools down but has time to heat ambient cold water. This gives rise to toroidal convection around the site of natural gas emission in the water column. Convection carries the warmed water to the surface (to the lower surface of ice) clear of the natural gas column. The heat reaches the upper surface of ice by means of heat conduction, where snow starts intensely melting. As a result, a thaw hole in the form of a ring arises on the snow-covered ice.
Published Version
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