<p>It looks like a geophysical method. But a wide variety of such methods have been applied to the Yamal crater by <a href="http://izdatgeo.ru/pdf/earth_cryo/2015-4/84_eng.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Olenchenko et al. (2015)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The complex of geophysical survey techniques included electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), near-field transient electromagnetic sounding (Transient Electro Magnetic (TEM) sounding), magnetic survey, and radioactivity survey.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'd say it looks like the first one (ERT), but it's just an &quot;educated speculation&quot;! :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-17T19:24:10.813Z
Ah, I see what you mean, thanks! It could be something a little bit like (but not exactly) [this](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/a/17447/6031)?
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-18T09:04:22.730Z
Exactly, something like this! Also used by archaeologists.
Jean-Marie Prival
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-17T15:04:00.977Z
2021-02-17T15:04:00.977Z
Jean-Marie Prival
<p>The RT video <a href="https://youtu.be/jc-FFhdNG9A?t=840" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Permafrost Mystery: scientists explore giant Yamal Sinkhole</a> (with English subtitles) shows scientists exploring the formation. In one scene after about <code>14:00</code> two scientists are deploying a device made of two perhaps 30 meter or more long wires(?) separated by about 1.2 meters, held apart by a rigid brace. One scientist holds some electronic equipment with a cable going down to one side of the brace.</p>
<p>Two screenshots are shown below. I can't tell if these long green wires go down into the hole as well or if those are something different, but I think they do, eventually.</p>
<p>Can anyone identify this instrument and what it measures, or at least provide some insightful educated speculation?</p>
<hr />
<p>Potentially related <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/1/21" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Detecting and Mapping Gas Emission Craters on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas, Western Siberia</a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wjfWi.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wjfWi.jpg" alt="screenshot from the RT video &quot;The Permafrost Mystery: scientists explore giant Yamal Sinkhole&quot;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/djhlP.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/djhlP.jpg" alt="screenshot from the RT video &quot;The Permafrost Mystery: scientists explore giant Yamal Sinkhole&quot;" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-19T05:39:47.063Z
There's a new one: https://earther.gizmodo.com/siberia-s-newest-exploding-crater-has-been-mapped-in-3d-1846288021
Keith McClary
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-19T10:40:48.087Z
@KeithMcClary yikes! but very nice photos, thanks!
uhoh
<measurements><instrumentation><field-measurements><identify-this-object>
What instrumentation and/or measurement is likely being shown in this video of giant Siberian craters/sinkholes?
uhoh
# What instrumentation and/or measurement is likely being shown in this video of giant Siberian craters/sinkholes?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-17)

The RT video [The Permafrost Mystery: scientists explore giant Yamal Sinkhole](https://youtu.be/jc-FFhdNG9A?t=840) (with English subtitles) shows scientists exploring the formation. In one scene after about `14:00` two scientists are deploying a device made of two perhaps 30 meter or more long wires(?) separated by about 1.2 meters, held apart by a rigid brace. One scientist holds some electronic equipment with a cable going down to one side of the brace.

Two screenshots are shown below. I can't tell if these long green wires go down into the hole as well or if those are something different, but I think they do, eventually.

Can anyone identify this instrument and what it measures, or at least provide some insightful educated speculation?

---

Potentially related [Detecting and Mapping Gas Emission Craters on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas, Western Siberia](https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/1/21)

[![screenshot from the RT video "The Permafrost Mystery: scientists explore giant Yamal Sinkhole"](https://i.sstatic.net/wjfWi.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/wjfWi.jpg)

[![screenshot from the RT video "The Permafrost Mystery: scientists explore giant Yamal Sinkhole"](https://i.sstatic.net/djhlP.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/djhlP.jpg)

**Tags:** measurements, instrumentation, field-measurements, identify-this-object

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There's a new one: https://earther.gizmodo.com/siberia-s-newest-exploding-crater-has-been-mapped-in-3d-1846288021  
> **username_0**: @username_1 yikes! but very nice photos, thanks!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-02-17. Score: 1

It looks like a geophysical method. But a wide variety of such methods have been applied to the Yamal crater by [Olenchenko et al. (2015)](http://izdatgeo.ru/pdf/earth_cryo/2015-4/84_eng.pdf):

> The complex of geophysical survey techniques included electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), near-field transient electromagnetic sounding (Transient Electro Magnetic (TEM) sounding), magnetic survey, and radioactivity survey.

I'd say it looks like the first one (ERT), but it's just an "educated speculation"! :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ah, I see what you mean, thanks! It could be something a little bit like (but not exactly) [this](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/a/17447/6031)?  
> **username_2**: Exactly, something like this! Also used by archaeologists.  

---

