Lake Nyos - Revision history

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2026-08-04T20:43:59Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:43, 4 August 2026
(No difference)

energy>Jmdonev at 20:26, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T20:26:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:26, 4 August 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Done ~~2016~~-04-30]]		[[Category:Done 2026-08-01]]
	[[File:Nyos_Lake.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Lake Nyos after the release of gas was left an unpleasant brown color.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Nyos_1986_001.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Nyos_Lake.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Lake Nyos after the release of gas was left an unpleasant brown color.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Nyos_1986_001.jpg</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Lake Nyos''' is a lake in Cameroon which released a lethal [[cloud]] of [[gas]] on August 21st, 1986, killing 1800 people and 3500 livestock. A cloud of carbon dioxide elevated out from the lake and proceeded to roll into the valley below at 100 km/hr.<ref name=RE1>M. Halbwachs, J. Sabroux, J. Grangeon, G. Kayser, J. Tochon-Danguy, A. Felix, J. B´eard, A. Villevieille, G. Vitter, P. Richon, A. Wüest and J. Hell, "Degassing the “Killer Lakes” Nyos and Monoun, Cameroon", Eos Trans. AGU, vol. 85, no. 30, p. 281, 2004.</ref> The cloud grew up to 100 [[meter]]s in height, and spread over 25 [[kilometer]]s before finally being dispersed into the [[atmosphere]], leaving people and livestock dead in its wake.</onlyinclude><ref name=hsw>HowStuffWorks. (Accessed May 19, 2016). ''How did Lake Nyos suddenly kill 1700 people?'' [Online], Available: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/lake-nyos.htm</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Lake Nyos''' is a lake in Cameroon which released a lethal [[cloud]] of [[gas]] on August 21st, 1986, killing 1800 people and 3500 livestock. A cloud of carbon dioxide elevated out from the lake and proceeded to roll into the valley below at 100 km/hr.<ref name=RE1>M. Halbwachs, J. Sabroux, J. Grangeon, G. Kayser, J. Tochon-Danguy, A. Felix, J. B´eard, A. Villevieille, G. Vitter, P. Richon, A. Wüest and J. Hell, "Degassing the “Killer Lakes” Nyos and Monoun, Cameroon", Eos Trans. AGU, vol. 85, no. 30, p. 281, 2004.</ref> The cloud grew up to 100 [[meter]]s in height, and spread over 25 [[kilometer]]s before finally being dispersed into the [[atmosphere]], leaving people and livestock dead in its wake.</onlyinclude><ref name=hsw>HowStuffWorks. (Accessed May 19, 2016). ''How did Lake Nyos suddenly kill 1700 people?'' [Online], Available: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/lake-nyos.htm</ref>
Line 14:		Line 14:
	The source of the CO<sub>2</sub> was debated within the scientific community for many years, however scientists eventually [[scientific consensus\|agreed]] that the source was nearby volcanic activity. The CO<sub>2</sub> from this was dissolved into groundwater and slowly transferred into the lake, increasing its CO<sub>2</sub> concentration over time. Normally crater lakes such as Lake Nyos are able to release CO<sub>2</sub> periodically, however Nyos was different and allowed the carbon dioxide to reach very high concentrations.<ref name=ar>University of Arizona Geosciences. (Accessed May 19, 2016). ''Lake Nyos Disaster'' [Online], Available: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geos577/projects/kayzar/html/lake_nyos_disaster.html</ref>		The source of the CO<sub>2</sub> was debated within the scientific community for many years, however scientists eventually [[scientific consensus\|agreed]] that the source was nearby volcanic activity. The CO<sub>2</sub> from this was dissolved into groundwater and slowly transferred into the lake, increasing its CO<sub>2</sub> concentration over time. Normally crater lakes such as Lake Nyos are able to release CO<sub>2</sub> periodically, however Nyos was different and allowed the carbon dioxide to reach very high concentrations.<ref name=ar>University of Arizona Geosciences. (Accessed May 19, 2016). ''Lake Nyos Disaster'' [Online], Available: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geos577/projects/kayzar/html/lake_nyos_disaster.html</ref>

	Although the source is well agreed upon, the actual cause of the gas ''release'' is still debated. The possibility of a volcanic eruption ~~were~~ ruled out upon studying the chemical composition of the lake, along with other factors. One theory suggests a landslide within the lake, while others attribute a slow influx of [[heat]] as the cause of an instability leading to release.<ref name=hsw/>		Although the source is well agreed upon, the actual cause of the gas ''release'' is still debated. The possibility of a volcanic eruption was ruled out upon studying the chemical composition of the lake, along with other factors. One theory suggests a landslide within the lake, while others attribute a slow influx of [[heat]] as the cause of an instability leading to release.<ref name=hsw/>
	In general, a gradual heating of the depths of the lake is widely accepted as the cause for the large gas release.<ref name=ar/>		In general, a gradual heating of the depths of the lake is widely accepted as the cause for the large gas release.<ref name=ar/>

Line 23:		Line 23:
	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
			[[Category: Uploaded]]

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported: From the summer

2016-09-17T22:29:26Z

1 revision imported: From the summer

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:29, 17 September 2016
(No difference)

Jmdonev at 18:05, 22 July 2016

2016-07-22T18:05:58Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2016-04-30]]
[[File:Nyos_Lake.jpg|250px|thumb|Figure 1. Lake Nyos after the release of gas was left an unpleasant brown color.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Nyos_1986_001.jpg</ref>]]
<onlyinclude>'''Lake Nyos''' is a lake in Cameroon which released a lethal [[cloud]] of [[gas]] on August 21st, 1986, killing 1800 people and 3500 livestock. A cloud of carbon dioxide elevated out from the lake and proceeded to roll into the valley below at 100 km/hr.<ref name=RE1>M. Halbwachs, J. Sabroux, J. Grangeon, G. Kayser, J. Tochon-Danguy, A. Felix, J. B´eard, A. Villevieille, G. Vitter, P. Richon, A. Wüest and J. Hell, "Degassing the “Killer Lakes” Nyos and Monoun, Cameroon", Eos Trans. AGU, vol. 85, no. 30, p. 281, 2004.</ref> The cloud grew up to 100 [[meter]]s in height, and spread over 25 [[kilometer]]s before finally being dispersed into the [[atmosphere]], leaving people and livestock dead in its wake.</onlyinclude><ref name=hsw>HowStuffWorks. (Accessed May 19, 2016). ''How did Lake Nyos suddenly kill 1700 people?'' [Online], Available: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/lake-nyos.htm</ref>

The released cloud contained a vast amount of [[carbon dioxide]] (CO2), which lingered at ground level for nearly 48 hours due to CO2 being [[density|denser]] than [[air]]. The CO2 killed people directly upon inhalation, as it inhibits the ability for the body to get enough [[oxygen]]. Low concentrations of CO2 are harmless, however the concentrations near the lake were over 15% CO2 content (compared to the typical 0.04% concentration of the atmosphere).<ref name=hsw/>

Situated in northwestern Cameroon, Lake Nyos is located in a crater on the edge of inactive volcano. Below the inactive volcano, a pocket of magma resides 80 km below the surface.<ref name=RE1/> CO2 from the magma below slowly percolates upward, while mixing with [[groundwater]] and accumulating in the bottom of the lake. When the [[gas]] at the bottom of the lake reaches a concentration threshold where it can no longer lie in the lake, a bubble of CO2 bursts from the lake bed.<ref name=RE1/>

Any rapid release of carbon dioxide is a concern, and the Lake Nyos disaster shows how devastating such releases can be. This disaster is often referenced when talking about the dangers of [[carbon capture and storage]]. For example please see 'Can we bury global warming' by Robert Socolow.<ref> 'Can we bury global warming' by Robert Socolow, Scientific American 293, 49 - 55 (2005).</ref>

==Cause of the disaster==
[[File:Lake_nyos_co2_vent.jpg|220px|thumb|Figure 2. Degassing of Lake Nyos.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_nyos_co2_vent.jpg</ref>]]

The source of the CO2 was debated within the scientific community for many years, however scientists eventually [[scientific consensus|agreed]] that the source was nearby volcanic activity. The CO2 from this was dissolved into groundwater and slowly transferred into the lake, increasing its CO2 concentration over time. Normally crater lakes such as Lake Nyos are able to release CO2 periodically, however Nyos was different and allowed the carbon dioxide to reach very high concentrations.<ref name=ar>University of Arizona Geosciences. (Accessed May 19, 2016). ''Lake Nyos Disaster'' [Online], Available: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geos577/projects/kayzar/html/lake_nyos_disaster.html</ref>

Although the source is well agreed upon, the actual cause of the gas ''release'' is still debated. The possibility of a volcanic eruption were ruled out upon studying the chemical composition of the lake, along with other factors. One theory suggests a landslide within the lake, while others attribute a slow influx of [[heat]] as the cause of an instability leading to release.<ref name=hsw/>
In general, a gradual heating of the depths of the lake is widely accepted as the cause for the large gas release.<ref name=ar/>

==Future of the lake==

Studies of the lake following the disaster show more CO2 building up beneath the surface. An engineering effort was put forth to deal with it safely. An electric pump was installed to release the CO2 in a large fountain, as seen in Figure 2. The soil on and around the crater is rich and fertile, so roughly 10 000 people make their homes near the lake.<ref name=RE1/> After the 1986 disaster, people were eager to return home.

==References==
{{reflist}}