Volatile gas could turn Rwandan lake into a freshwater time bomb
Monday, November 16, 2009 - 14:35
in Earth & Climate
A dangerous level of carbon dioxide and methane gas haunts Lake Kivu, the freshwater lake bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The volatile mixture at the bottom of the lake could remain still for another 1,000 years or explode without warning. In a region prone to volcanic and seismic activity, the fragility of the lake is a serious matter. Scientists will meet in January in Gisenyi, Rwanda, to grapple with the problem.