Uncovering Australia's Hidden Treasure: "Fairy circles" emit hydrogen

Australia's North Perth basin has become the focus of attention in the search for alternative energy sources thanks to the discovery of natural hydrogen sources emerging from mysterious formations known as "fairy circles". These "circles" have attracted the attention of both scientists and specialists in the field of energy, because they are able to open a huge source of environmentally friendly and sustainable fuel.



For the first time, the existence of "fairy circles" was discovered on satellite images taken in June 2023 by the Landsat 9 Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2). Located near the town of Moore, about 150 km north of Perth, these circular depressions, which are often mistaken for salt lakes, have a diameter reaching several hundred meters. The amount of vegetation and water contained in these formations changes over time, which makes them even more mysterious.



In 2021, a group of scientists led by Emanuelle Frery from the Australian Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO) measured the gas content in the soil around the "fairy circles". To their surprise, they found an increased concentration of hydrogen in the soil adjacent to the edges of these formations. This groundbreaking study confirmed for the first time the presence of natural hydrogen seeps in Australia and established a link between them and the unique geology of the region.



The natural release of hydrogen occurs in the bowels of the Earth as a result of various processes, including the reaction of water with rocks and radiolysis - the decay of water molecules under the influence of radiation. In the North Perth basin, ideal conditions have been created for the production of hydrogen: iron-rich rocks react with water to form hydrogen. Geophysical data indicate that fault zones in the basin can serve as vertical paths for gas migration to the surface.



If earlier accidental finds led to the discovery of hydrogen reservoirs, now the development of satellite imagery allows scientists to easily identify potential leaks, for example, "fairy circles" in Australia. Similar circular formations with a high concentration of hydrogen have been recorded all over the world - from Brazil and Russia to North Carolina in the USA. This suggests that, most likely, there are still many untouched sources of natural hydrogen that have yet to be discovered.



The growing interest in hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel has sparked enthusiasm in Australia and beyond. Currently, the industrial production of hydrogen is based on energy-intensive processes, such as electrolysis or the use of fossil fuels. However, natural sources of hydrogen are a promising alternative. To fully unlock the potential of these sources, further studies of the formation of hydrogen under the Earth's surface and the development of effective methods of its extraction and storage are necessary.



Scientists and experts are optimistic about the future of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy solution. Dr. Frery emphasizes the need for continued research, stating: "The relationship between the presence of hydrogen, circular features and vegetation is not well understood." As new knowledge accumulates, Australia's fabulous circles may prove to be the key to discovering a sustainable and rich source of clean energy for the whole world.