The strange and mysterious
patches in the grasslands of Namib Desert is called “Fairy Circles” in Southern
African have challenged explanation with hypotheses ranging from ants to
termites to grass-killing gas that seeps out of the soil. Thus, the bird-eye
shows, the Namibian desert looks like it has a bad case of chicken pox, well spread
across 1,100 miles of a narrow strip sit a smattering of barren polka dots. However,
from several decades, a number of theories, from alien invasion to poisonous
gasses have been put forth to explain the phenomenon. In fact “Fairy circles”
have been a long mystery to scientists and it is discovered that small fairy
circles last for an average of 24 years, whereas larger circles can stick
around for up to 75 years. It is not sure, why the circles form in the first place,
or why they disappear. The mysterious fairy rings have many theories for what
lies behind the patches of bare earth. One of them is dragon’s breath, burn
marks and dragons living beneath the ground, UFOs, radioactive soil, termites
and competition between the plants for scarce resources of nutrients and water.
The Fairy Circles transform the landscape into something more like the surface
of moon.
The Fairy Circles can be 6 to 40
feet in diameter can found in the region’s arid grassland on sandy soils. There
is ring vegetation around the edge of the ring is taller than the surrounding
grassland. They are one of nature's greatest mysteries, prompting local legends
they are created by Gods and making wild theories about visits by UFOs. The
vast areas are well covered by the mysterious fairy circles that pock the gray
desert of Namibia captivated the imaginations of visitors in this region. But
now scientists are getting on a series of projects intended at lastly
unravelling what causes these strange circles of bare earth to form in their
millions.
AS the scientists had done
several theories for the explanation of Fairy Circles, but not conclude on
definite reasons yet. Perhaps Termites seems to be the most popular authentic
theory. The sand termite species “Psammotermes allocerus” was the most likely
suspect for creating the fairy circles. The insect was the only species constantly
present across the 1,200 miles of desert which included the circles. The local
peoples are also having different thoughts of fungi, spirits and even dragon
theories. However, it is difficult to form an opinion about something which is
still a mystery, and investigated for years. Another activity of termites
building nests beneath the ground causes the release of poisonous gas that
causes the plants above to die. The pathogenic fungi may be responsible of
patches where highly toxic euphorbia bushes grew.
Moreover, a latest theory
suggested the circles follow patterns of rainfall and may be caused by
competition between plants themselves, with circles of stronger more vibrant
grasses sucking nutrients and moisture from the deprived soil in the center and
rainfall is an imperative predictor of fairy circles. However, there are many
competing theories which have generated fervent factions within the scientific
community. The fairy circles appear in a surprisingly regular hexagonal
pattern, almost like a honeycomb. This seems to disregard the idea that belches
of poisonous gas from below ground are killing the plants and the role of social
insects. Only self-organization is recognized to cause patterns like this at
such a large scale.
The vegetation gap expands as the
competition ensues, and the grass-free zone becomes a reservoir for nutrients
and water. With the additional resources, larger grass species are then able to
take root at the periphery of the gap, and a stable fairy circle develops.
Scientists have also previously proposed that fairy circles are an example of a
"self-organizing vegetation pattern," which arises from plant interactions.
In 2008, researchers developed a mathematical model showing the vegetation
patterning of fairy circles could depend on water availability. Mr Dressler,
58, from Marbella, Spain, visits three times to this area between 2010 and
2014. He said: I came across this marvel by chance during one of my very first
visits. Indeed it was very exciting to fly over the area for the first time. Source: Charismatic Planet
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