Does this theory explain the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle?

Meteorologists believe this strange hexagonal cloud formation may explain the Bermuda Triangle mystery.

The loosely defined area, between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rica, is associated with high numbers of planes and ships disappearing without trace.

The phrase was first coined by writer Vincent H Gaddis in 1964, after the vanishing of Flight 19, a group of five torpedo bombers on a training mission.

However, it was neither the first nor the last — with the Bermuda Triangle catching the public imagination, with wild theories, many about aliens, abounding.

Now, in a new Science Channel documentary, scientists claim that cloud formations could be behind the disappearances.

These clouds range in size from 20 to 55 miles (32 to 89 kilometers) wide. From above, they appear to form six-sided outlines, like honeycombs.

Similar formations have been found in the North Sea, and have been associated with “air bombs” — downdrafts of air that can destroy ships.

Dr Randy Cerveny of Arizona State University said: "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.“

However, not everyone is convinced.

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

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

Many experts have argued that, in fact, there is no mystery to solve.

In his 1975 book The Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Solved, Larry Kusche argued that the number of ships and aircraft reported missing in the area was not significantly greater, proportionally speaking, than in any other part of the ocean

The marine insurance market Lloyd’s of London has also argued a similar point.