Mammoth Lakes CO2
6 messages in this thread
The San Diego Tribue has an article about emission of CO2 from the Mammoth
Lakes basin.
Is outgassing of CO2 normal in volcanoes? From what I understand from NOVA, it
is when the volcano is _NOT_ outgassing (but the pressure is building) that it
is time to worry.
Comments?
Martin,
CO2 emissions from volcanoes are uncommon but not unheard of. It can also be
one of the most dangerous kinds of eruptions if the vent is located in a basin
or valley. Because CO2 is heavier than air, a massive but non-explosive
emission of it can fill the whole valley before anyone realizes what's going
on, and every animal in the valley dies of suffocation.
If I recall right, there was an eruption like that in Central America around
thirty years ago that killed hundreds of people. Lots of villages around a
large lake . . . volcanic vent on the lake bottom . . . CO2 emissions from the
vent built up slowly until the lakewater overturned and all that CO2 was sent
into the air at once. Just like that, the valley was full of CO2, and no
oxygen for the people to breathe.
Jon W.
Actually, I believe that was in Africa, and it was more like 20-25 years ago.
Jon,
>f I recall right, there was an eruption like that in Central America around
thirty years ago that killed hundreds of people. Lots of villages around a
large lake . . . volcanic vent on the lake bottom . . .
I believe I have clippings for a couple of such incidents in Africa. One I
think happened at a place called "Lake Noos" but I might have the name wrong.
There was some speculation as to exactly what caused the incident. I think
that the two events in Africa which caused so many deaths were eventually not
attributed to volcanic vents at the bottom (based on the low amount of bottom
material stirred up and mixed into the lake) but rather 'normal' gas building
at depth coupled with extreme temperatute differences and finally that
catastrophic moment occured where 'turnover' happened and the low layers
swapped out with the upper layer – the lowe pressure released the gas from
solution and lots of people died.
American Scientist did an interesting preliminary report on one team's
research. The death toll was so high that the natives in the area presumed
that some government was testing a neutron bomb! Also, the CO2 concentration
was so high in some surrounding lowlands that not only did people die, but the
corrosive effects of the gas created hideous blisters and such on the victims.
There were lots of engineering studies done on ways to normalize pressures and
temperatures non-catastrophically (man-made fountains and the like) but I never
saw a follow-up to see if any such measures were taken.
I've always dreamed of retiring to a little home on the shore of a little lake
deep enough for good Walleye fishing, but reports of stuff like this make me
wonder…
… Mark
Hi, Mark
> I've always dreamed of retiring to a little home on the shore of a little
> lake deep enough for good Walleye fishing, but reports of stuff like this
> make me wonder…
Well, you could retire to a little home in Biggs Junction, or Rufus, OR. The
Columbia River walleye fishing is pretty good, and there's enough current to
keep things stirred up. BTW, the smallmouth bass fishery on the lower John Day
River near there is world class. So is the picture jasper near Biggs. <g>
Cheers, Guy
Guy,
Thanks for the retirement tips! I'm only 34, but I've already got a list of
places to settle down. Oregon is high on my list because every bicycle tourist
I know who's passed through the place has loved it and said everyone was very
nice to them. I've liked the sound of "Coos Bay" but I don't know what it's
like. I'll add Biggs Junction, or Rufus, OR to my list of prospects.
… Mark