Booming sounds, cratered lakebeds, and salty water still puzzle scientists studying Seneca Lake, according to the Cornell Chronicle. Researchers recently found methane trapped below the lake’s surface, but not enough to pin down the source of the famous “Seneca Drums.”
Teams from Cornell University, SUNY ESF, and the state DEC say the pockmarks likely form when gas builds up and erupts in rare bursts, rather than leaking constantly. Tests show the methane comes from a mix of biological activity and fossil sources, muddying earlier theories.
Scientists also deployed sensors to track unexplained chloride spikes that affect drinking water. Results are expected next spring.
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