Scientists Warn About Growing Instability Of Giant Sinkholes In Texas
- 8 years ago
In a recent study, scientists have determined that two well-known giant sinkholes in Texas are continuing to expand each year; as such, they warn that ‘a collapse could be catastrophic.’
Scientists are sounding the alarm about the growing instability of two sinkholes in Texas, reports International Business Times.
According to a press release issued by the Southern Methodist University, the cavities, which are about a mile apart near the towns of Wink and Kermit, have existed for years.
The first, called Wink Sink No. 1, began forming in 1980 and is currently about 360-feet wide. The other, named Wink Sink No. 2, opened in 2002 and is nearly 900-feet wide in some parts.
Both were triggered by extensive oil and gas operations during the last century.
The team analyzed data from a satellite deployed in 2014 and determined that “the sinkholes continue to expand.”
And even though No. 1 seems to be more unstable, eroding up to 1.6 inches annually, a section of No. 2 is still falling as much as 1.2 inches a year.
The researchers attribute these changes to fluctuating “groundwater levels and dissolving minerals.”
As such, they plan to continue monitoring the area and warn that “a collapse could be catastrophic.”
Scientists are sounding the alarm about the growing instability of two sinkholes in Texas, reports International Business Times.
According to a press release issued by the Southern Methodist University, the cavities, which are about a mile apart near the towns of Wink and Kermit, have existed for years.
The first, called Wink Sink No. 1, began forming in 1980 and is currently about 360-feet wide. The other, named Wink Sink No. 2, opened in 2002 and is nearly 900-feet wide in some parts.
Both were triggered by extensive oil and gas operations during the last century.
The team analyzed data from a satellite deployed in 2014 and determined that “the sinkholes continue to expand.”
And even though No. 1 seems to be more unstable, eroding up to 1.6 inches annually, a section of No. 2 is still falling as much as 1.2 inches a year.
The researchers attribute these changes to fluctuating “groundwater levels and dissolving minerals.”
As such, they plan to continue monitoring the area and warn that “a collapse could be catastrophic.”