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Erupting lakes
Limnic eruptions, or lake overturn, are rare natural disasters that occur when
carbon dioxide gas is suddenly released from the bottom of a lake, suffocating life
around it. Such lakes that are saturated with gas are like unopened bottles of soda.
Triggers like landslides, volcanic activities, and rainstorms can set off a limnic
eruption in a saturated lake, the way opening a bottle of soda releases gases.
Lake Nyos limnic eruption, 1986 …
Lake Nyos in Cameroon is a volcanic crater lake. On August 21, 1986, the lake
suddenly emitted a large cloud of carbon dioxide (CO2). The gas spilled over the lake
into two valleys. Being denser than air, CO2 settled down and spread in a thick
layer, displacing breathable air upwards. This effect reached as far as twenty to
twenty-five kilometres from the lake.
The eruption could have been caused by a landslide or volcanic
activity. According to scientists, CO2 was pumped into the lake
due to volcanic gas emissions or underground springs.
This CO2 remained in the lower layers of the lake
due to high pressure. On becoming unstable,
the layers overturned, releasing the gas.
During a limnic eruption, CO2 suddenly
erupts from deep waters, suffocating
wildlife, livestock, and humans.
Did you know?
Lake Kivu in Central Africa is
saturated with CO2 and highly
flammable methane. To add to
the danger, the lake is in an
earthquake-prone area, with active
volcanoes nearby!
I’m a ticking
bomb!
TICKER To avoid further eruptions in future, scientists from France and Cameroon installed a pipe in Lake
Limnic eruptions, or lake overturn, are rare natural disasters that occur when
carbon dioxide gas is suddenly released from the bottom of a lake, suffocating life
around it. Such lakes that are saturated with gas are like unopened bottles of soda.
Triggers like landslides, volcanic activities, and rainstorms can set off a limnic
eruption in a saturated lake, the way opening a bottle of soda releases gases.
Lake Nyos limnic eruption, 1986 …
Lake Nyos in Cameroon is a volcanic crater lake. On August 21, 1986, the lake
suddenly emitted a large cloud of carbon dioxide (CO2). The gas spilled over the lake
into two valleys. Being denser than air, CO2 settled down and spread in a thick
layer, displacing breathable air upwards. This effect reached as far as twenty to
twenty-five kilometres from the lake.
The eruption could have been caused by a landslide or volcanic
activity. According to scientists, CO2 was pumped into the lake
due to volcanic gas emissions or underground springs.
This CO2 remained in the lower layers of the lake
due to high pressure. On becoming unstable,
the layers overturned, releasing the gas.
During a limnic eruption, CO2 suddenly
erupts from deep waters, suffocating
wildlife, livestock, and humans.
Did you know?
Lake Kivu in Central Africa is
saturated with CO2 and highly
flammable methane. To add to
the danger, the lake is in an
earthquake-prone area, with active
volcanoes nearby!
I’m a ticking
bomb!
TICKER To avoid further eruptions in future, scientists from France and Cameroon installed a pipe in Lake
