Experts claim 'air bombs' explain Bermuda Triangle mystery

Are these hexagonal cloud patterns behind the Bermuda Triangle?

(Image credit: CNN/Science Channel/YouTube)

The "Bermuda Triangle" is the stuff of legend — in both senses of the word. The area of the Atlantic Ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda has seen its share, or maybe more than its share, of mysterious disappearances of ships and aircraft, leading to a popular theory that some paranormal force is at work in the triangular body of water. Two meteorologists tell the Science Channel that hexagonal cloud patterns, 20 to 55 miles across, are likely to blame for the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon.

"These types of hexagonal shapes over the ocean are in essence, 'air bombs,'" said Dr. Randy Cerveny at Arizona State University. "They're formed by what are called microbursts. They're blasts of air that come down out of the bottom of the clouds and hit the ocean, and they create waves that can sometimes be massive in size once they start to interact with each other." These "air bombs," with winds up to 170 miles per hour or 100 mph near sea level, are strong enough to sink ships by creating huge waves or pounding down airplanes from the sky, Cerveny tells the Science Channel. Other meteorologists disagree with this theory, noting that it is based on weather patterns in the North Sea off Britain, which has a very different climate. You can learn more in the CNN report below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.