A limnic eruption is a rare natural disaster characterized by the sudden release of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) from deep lake waters. This process can create a gas cloud capable of suffocating wildlife, livestock, and humans[1][3]. These eruptions are typically triggered by seismic activity such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, disrupting unstable layers of CO2 within a lake[1].
For an eruption to occur, specific conditions must be met. The lake must be limnically active, containing high levels of CO2, and have a stratified thermal structure with an upper and lower layer that differs in gas saturation[3]. The dense CO2 cloud that forms after an eruption is heavier than air and tends to settle low to the ground, displacing breathable air and leading to asphyxiation[1][6].
There have been few recorded instances of limnic eruptions, the most notable being at Lake Monoun and Lake Nyos in Cameroon, which resulted in significant loss of life[1][2]. Lake Kivu, situated between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, contains large amounts of dissolved gases and poses a potential threat for future eruptions due to its geological setting[6].
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