|
Post by marchesarosa on Dec 29, 2011 10:17:44 GMT 1
triggering mechanisms It had been known for years that the water in Lake Nyos was extremely enriched in dissolved CO2. The lake overlies a volcanic source, which appears to release CO2 and other gases. However, most of this gas does not escape into the atmosphere, but rather dissolves into the bottom waters of the lake. At a depth of over 200 meter, the sheer weight of the upper lake levels exerts considerable pressures on the bottom waters. This confining pressure allows CO2 to dissolve into the bottom waters without escaping to the surface, in much the same way that the cap on a carbonated beverage prevents CO2 from bubbling out of its container. At a depth of 200 meters, water can hold 15 times its own volume in CO2. It has been estimated that every liter of water in the lower part of the lake may have contained between 1 to 5 liters of CO2! www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Nyos.htmlI understand that there are in the order of ten thousand undersea volcanoes continuously venting CO2 into the oceans at depths far greater than 200 metres. Are these effects taken into account? Does it impact on the much quoted figure of 50:1 for dissolved CO2 in the oceans? ---------- Thanks to Richard 111 on WUWT for raising this matter. Interesting discussion of ocean acidity and alkalinity on WUWT here wattsupwiththat.com/2011/12/27/the-ocean-is-not-getting-acidified/#more-53774
|
|