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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / What created the Carolina Bays in N & S Carolina, USA?
« on: 06/01/2014 07:14:56 »
USA Carolina Bay formation theories:
Recently, I came across a discussion referencing Carolina Bay formation theories. So I thought it might be interesting to discuss the various theories within its own thread:
What is most commonly known about structures called Carolina Bays is that they are flat bottomed, circular depressions, from a few feet to tens of feet in depth and from a few acres to thousands of acres in area; usually filled with water, when not drained for agriculture. Many thousands are evident on the Central Atlantic coastal plains of the USA. However, it should be noted that similar structures, with many different names, can be found over much of Earth's surface.
The most popular theory had all of the hundreds of thousands of these depressions formed by impacts from fragments of meteors or comets. Unfortunately, the age of deposits inside varied widely, requiring tens of thousands of different fragments to impact a limited area over tens of thousands of years. Furthermore, the fragments ALL had to impact in nearly the same NE direction and it would not be logical for all the meteors or comets to travel in only one direction. Plus, their flat bottoms and the relatively level layers of geologic strata beneath them rule out any impacts by anything.
Others believe high pressure winds formed these structures, which I consider physically impossible. Strong winds can form long rows of sand dunes, but not circular structures, surrounded by 10 to 30 foot high borders of sand; which would have been blown away by high winds.
A few believe swirling water currents somehow produced these structures, with the assumption that the areas where they are now located was then under water. This is an interesting concept, but not likely when one considers the destructive power of wave action, especially during storm surges, which would have wiped out the still existing borders of sand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Bay
Finally, the nearly uniform NE direction of the long axis of oval depressions is more aligned with the slope of surrounding soils, demonstrating a dependence on the angle of preexisting geological deposits and little else.
Google Earth LIDAR images and http://www.georgehoward.net/cbays.htm.
In recent years, research teams have drilled half inch diameter holes in and around many of these depressions, around two meters deep; where the soil was above water. Substantial amounts of hydrogen gas were detected inside the depressions' borders, with very little or none found outside. This was the same result in similar depressions tested in the USA [North & South Carolina, Kansas, Nebraska], Russia, Ukraine and Oman, Africa.
What I found more interesting was the fact that little or no hydrocarbons were found. However, when the vegetation within some depressions was set on fire, by lightening or man, fires would often spread over relatively large areas. Some fires resisted being extinguished and lasted for weeks. Their flames also appeared nearly invisible after the vegetation was burnt off. This is a characteristic of hydrogen gas fueled fire, unlike the more colorful flames resulting from decayed vegetation gases or natural gas fires; which can also last for extended periods.
Vegetation was also affected by increased hydrogen gas emissions in core areas. The difference is visible to the naked eye, with crops, grasses, shrub or trees appearing markedly paler in color.
Water is most commonly associated with hydrogen emissions, which is understandable since hydrogen is a reactive gas and can combine with oxides to form water [HOH]. Indeed, many similar structures have fresh water springs; the water of which appears to have no carbon 14 and therefore could not have come from the surface.
In Africa, some oasis water holes are thought to be evidence of hydrogen emissions creating water by combining with sub-surface oxides; with no useful rainfall for extended periods. One oasis village in Mali, Africa, had a well drilled in search of pure water. The drillers were surprised to find 98% hydrogen gas. So they rigged up a hydrogen powered generator to supply the local village with electricity. When a driller asked the village chieftain what he wanted most from the new found electrical power, he answered, “Refrigeration to make Ice Cream.” [He got it.]
Now other companies are considering drilling exclusively for hydrogen gas, but that activity has some potentially dangerous problems; which I first encountered while working with Shell Oil in 1956.
NH2E.com
One possible answer to how a relatively flat plain became populated by circular depressions is based on the fact that hydrogen atoms are small enough to uniquely reside within the atoms and molecules of many other elements. Their presence creates no increase in sample size; only increased density. Hydrogen atoms can also pass slowly through other atoms and molecules, much like water moves within aquifers.
However, when stressed by external forces, hydrogen atoms can effuse more rapidly from within the other elements and combine to form hydrogen molecules between their grain boundaries; splitting them apart. This ability of hydrogen atoms to pass through other elements as well as weaken their grain boundary bonds makes the storage and pipeline transport of hydrogen a difficult, expensive and potentially wasteful process. This behavior of hydrogen is known in the materials industry as Hydrogen Embrittlement, a continuing threat to the strength of materials. This is especially common in drilling equipment utilized in deep wells; which are often found to be saturated with hydrogen gas.
http://www.uni-saarland.de/fak8/wwm/research/phd_barnoush/hydrogen.pdf
Dr.-Ing. Afrooz Barnoush, December 1, 2011
I suggest that Carolina Bay type depressions appear to have been formed by hydrogen emissions which had a greater flow rate in the past. I suspect that hydrogen emissions were the result of stresses created by earth tides and were substantial enough to allow the combining hydrogen molecules to produce an expansion of Earth's crustal layers. This would then elevate the surface of the ground in a circular manner; in effect a hydrogen bubble.
If true, the elevated surface would eventually become weathered and eroded surface materials would be deposited around the elevated surface. Then, with a decrease in the flow rate of hydrogen emissions, the now eroded surface would deflate and become a shallow, flat bottomed, circular or oval depression, surrounded by now elevated borders of eroded materials, usually sand.
Fact remains, hydrogen researchers testing Carolina Bay type structures have found significant amounts of hydrogen gas emissions, but only in the interiors of the depressions.
Because hydrogen gas “seeps” are found all over the world, the concept of utilizing hydrogen gas wells to obtain sufficient quantities of hydrogen to power electrical generating systems and produce substantial amounts of anhydrous ammonia for fuel and fertilizer may become a world changing activity. However, just for my personal interest, If anyone has a better idea as to how the “Carolina Bays” were formed, I would sincerely appreciate their explanation.
Recently, I came across a discussion referencing Carolina Bay formation theories. So I thought it might be interesting to discuss the various theories within its own thread:
What is most commonly known about structures called Carolina Bays is that they are flat bottomed, circular depressions, from a few feet to tens of feet in depth and from a few acres to thousands of acres in area; usually filled with water, when not drained for agriculture. Many thousands are evident on the Central Atlantic coastal plains of the USA. However, it should be noted that similar structures, with many different names, can be found over much of Earth's surface.
The most popular theory had all of the hundreds of thousands of these depressions formed by impacts from fragments of meteors or comets. Unfortunately, the age of deposits inside varied widely, requiring tens of thousands of different fragments to impact a limited area over tens of thousands of years. Furthermore, the fragments ALL had to impact in nearly the same NE direction and it would not be logical for all the meteors or comets to travel in only one direction. Plus, their flat bottoms and the relatively level layers of geologic strata beneath them rule out any impacts by anything.
Others believe high pressure winds formed these structures, which I consider physically impossible. Strong winds can form long rows of sand dunes, but not circular structures, surrounded by 10 to 30 foot high borders of sand; which would have been blown away by high winds.
A few believe swirling water currents somehow produced these structures, with the assumption that the areas where they are now located was then under water. This is an interesting concept, but not likely when one considers the destructive power of wave action, especially during storm surges, which would have wiped out the still existing borders of sand.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Bay
Finally, the nearly uniform NE direction of the long axis of oval depressions is more aligned with the slope of surrounding soils, demonstrating a dependence on the angle of preexisting geological deposits and little else.
Google Earth LIDAR images and http://www.georgehoward.net/cbays.htm.
In recent years, research teams have drilled half inch diameter holes in and around many of these depressions, around two meters deep; where the soil was above water. Substantial amounts of hydrogen gas were detected inside the depressions' borders, with very little or none found outside. This was the same result in similar depressions tested in the USA [North & South Carolina, Kansas, Nebraska], Russia, Ukraine and Oman, Africa.
What I found more interesting was the fact that little or no hydrocarbons were found. However, when the vegetation within some depressions was set on fire, by lightening or man, fires would often spread over relatively large areas. Some fires resisted being extinguished and lasted for weeks. Their flames also appeared nearly invisible after the vegetation was burnt off. This is a characteristic of hydrogen gas fueled fire, unlike the more colorful flames resulting from decayed vegetation gases or natural gas fires; which can also last for extended periods.
Vegetation was also affected by increased hydrogen gas emissions in core areas. The difference is visible to the naked eye, with crops, grasses, shrub or trees appearing markedly paler in color.
Water is most commonly associated with hydrogen emissions, which is understandable since hydrogen is a reactive gas and can combine with oxides to form water [HOH]. Indeed, many similar structures have fresh water springs; the water of which appears to have no carbon 14 and therefore could not have come from the surface.
In Africa, some oasis water holes are thought to be evidence of hydrogen emissions creating water by combining with sub-surface oxides; with no useful rainfall for extended periods. One oasis village in Mali, Africa, had a well drilled in search of pure water. The drillers were surprised to find 98% hydrogen gas. So they rigged up a hydrogen powered generator to supply the local village with electricity. When a driller asked the village chieftain what he wanted most from the new found electrical power, he answered, “Refrigeration to make Ice Cream.” [He got it.]
Now other companies are considering drilling exclusively for hydrogen gas, but that activity has some potentially dangerous problems; which I first encountered while working with Shell Oil in 1956.
NH2E.com
One possible answer to how a relatively flat plain became populated by circular depressions is based on the fact that hydrogen atoms are small enough to uniquely reside within the atoms and molecules of many other elements. Their presence creates no increase in sample size; only increased density. Hydrogen atoms can also pass slowly through other atoms and molecules, much like water moves within aquifers.
However, when stressed by external forces, hydrogen atoms can effuse more rapidly from within the other elements and combine to form hydrogen molecules between their grain boundaries; splitting them apart. This ability of hydrogen atoms to pass through other elements as well as weaken their grain boundary bonds makes the storage and pipeline transport of hydrogen a difficult, expensive and potentially wasteful process. This behavior of hydrogen is known in the materials industry as Hydrogen Embrittlement, a continuing threat to the strength of materials. This is especially common in drilling equipment utilized in deep wells; which are often found to be saturated with hydrogen gas.
http://www.uni-saarland.de/fak8/wwm/research/phd_barnoush/hydrogen.pdf
Dr.-Ing. Afrooz Barnoush, December 1, 2011
I suggest that Carolina Bay type depressions appear to have been formed by hydrogen emissions which had a greater flow rate in the past. I suspect that hydrogen emissions were the result of stresses created by earth tides and were substantial enough to allow the combining hydrogen molecules to produce an expansion of Earth's crustal layers. This would then elevate the surface of the ground in a circular manner; in effect a hydrogen bubble.
If true, the elevated surface would eventually become weathered and eroded surface materials would be deposited around the elevated surface. Then, with a decrease in the flow rate of hydrogen emissions, the now eroded surface would deflate and become a shallow, flat bottomed, circular or oval depression, surrounded by now elevated borders of eroded materials, usually sand.
Fact remains, hydrogen researchers testing Carolina Bay type structures have found significant amounts of hydrogen gas emissions, but only in the interiors of the depressions.
Because hydrogen gas “seeps” are found all over the world, the concept of utilizing hydrogen gas wells to obtain sufficient quantities of hydrogen to power electrical generating systems and produce substantial amounts of anhydrous ammonia for fuel and fertilizer may become a world changing activity. However, just for my personal interest, If anyone has a better idea as to how the “Carolina Bays” were formed, I would sincerely appreciate their explanation.