A groundbreaking study from the University of Vienna's Department of Geology has established a direct link between the enigmatic "fairy circles" and the Earth's natural hydrogen reserves. These circular patches of land, found globally in diverse locations such as Brazil's São Francisco Basin, Russia, Namibia, and Australia, are now understood to be geological indicators of natural hydrogen seepage from deep underground.
The research, published in the journal Geology, reveals that the size and depth of these formations correlate with the pressure and depth of the underlying hydrogen source. For years, scientists noted that fairy circles emitted natural hydrogen, but the precise mechanisms of their formation and the relationship between their dimensions and the hydrogen source remained unclear. The University of Vienna team utilized advanced geomechanical computer simulations to model the complex interactions of gas and water flow within sedimentary layers. Their findings describe a two-step process: natural hydrogen displaces water, causing surface uplift, followed by soil compression and subsidence as hydrogen flow diminishes, creating the characteristic depressions.
This insight suggests that the dimensions of these depressions can serve as natural signposts for locating underground natural hydrogen deposits. Natural hydrogen, also known as "white" or "golden" hydrogen, is a geologically produced resource with a negligible carbon footprint, positioning it as a highly promising sustainable energy option. The energy sector is increasingly focusing on natural hydrogen due to its environmental advantages over other production methods, such as "grey" hydrogen derived from fossil fuels or the costly "green" hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable energy.
The study, supported by OMV and led by Martin Schöpfer, indicates a correlation where larger fairy circles generally correspond to deeper and higher-pressure hydrogen sources. Bernhard Grasemann, deputy head of the Department of Geology, described these findings as a "real breakthrough," stating that "Fairy circles could thus serve as natural signposts in the future for finding underground hydrogen sources – a potentially inexhaustible and environmentally friendly energy source." Further research is planned to incorporate simulations with varied soil types and to conduct field research exploring the influence of chemical reactions on the subsidence process, aiming to fully elucidate the formation mechanisms of fairy circles and confirm their utility in hydrogen exploration.