BBC2 Horizon

Did anyone see the Horizon programme on telly tonight about all the sinkholes in Florida? Whole houses just suddenly disappearing down these huge underground holes. Frightening stuff.
I know nothing about geology, but do worry that might happen here if they insist on fracking?

Re: BBC2 Horizon

I saw a bit of the programme Mups I think a lot depends on the type of ground you are living on. Some substances like chalk are more prone to sink holes.

No I am not worried about them, I am more worried about travelling on the motorway .

Re: BBC2 Horizon

Mmm, I probably worry too much Meg.

Re: BBC2 Horizon

There are quite a few sinkholes in the Yorkshire Dales but ,as far as I'm aware, they are not in residential areas.

Re: BBC2 Horizon

Mups - there was an item on the news last night regarding this country - didn't catch where it was but it was South. A huge hole appeared at the front of his house where the car was parked, swallowed the car !
I instantly thought of fracking, because they said it was due to mining that went on there years ago ......

Re: BBC2 Horizon

What on earth has any of this to do with fracking? Didn't the guy go to great lengths to explain that this is the result of millions of years of geology? Or was it me that just missed the fracking bit?

Re: BBC2 Horizon

Haven't seen the Horizon programme yet - this was on the news ...
If past mining can cause problems, then fracking has the potential to do the same ....

Re: BBC2 Horizon

Fracking only removes gas from the ground not solid matter.

Re: BBC2 Horizon

As I understand it - they drill down then 'crack' the rocks beneath ...
Hardly sounds stable. As for 'experts' there are always two sides there.
I don't trust the idea that's where I sit .....time will tell, as with everything else ....

Re: BBC2 Horizon

Gas and oil are retrieved from porous rock and the rock remains stable after extraction. There has been much misinformation regarding fracking, and that misinformation is perpetuated by ignorance of the process. It's a bit like branding someone a witch back in the middle ages...