Could these hexagonal clouds explain the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle?

Hexagonal clouds can be seen over the Bermuda Triangle. Credit: Science Channel

Researchers in the US claim they have discovered the answer to the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.

The area - loosely defined as that bound by the western tip of Florida, to the south by Puerto Rico and to the north by Bermuda - is notorious for the reported disappearances of planes and ships in mysterious circumstances.

In a new Science Channel documentary, meteorologists claim that hexagonal shapes in the clouds can cause "airbombs" - or blasts of air that come out of the bottom of the clouds and hit the ocean.

These "airbombs" can cause sea-surface winds of up to 100mph and 45ft waves, wreaking havoc on the sea surface and any vessels on it, Dr Randy Cerveny of Arizona State University said.

These "airbombs" could be the causes of some of the disappearances, the Science Channel speculated.

The area is loosely defined as that bound by the western tip of Florida, to the south by Puerto Rico and to the north by Bermuda. Credit: Science Channel

The Science Channel added that the clouds in the Bahamas were similar to those seen over the North Sea off the coast of the UK.

This new theory, the Science Channel stated, "could solve the riddle of the Bermuda Triangle".

The Bermuda Triangle covers 500,000 square miles. Credit: Science Channel

However, others have poured scorn on the idea.

NBC meteorologist Kevin Corriveau said that the weather patterns of two very different areas could not be compared, noting that latitude plays a major role in the characteristics of clouds and weather.

"When I look at a hexagonal cloud shape in the Bahamas, this is not the cloud signature of what a microburst looks like," Corriveau explained.

"You would normally have one large to extremely large thunderstorm that wouldn't have an opening in the middle."

Instead Mr Corriveau believes the unusual shapes in the clouds could be due to the small islands of the Bahamas heating the air differently than the long coastline of Florida, creating erratic weather patterns.