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Magmatic Fluid Supply into Lakes Nyos and Monoun, and Mitigation of Natural Disasters through Capacity Building in Cameroon

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Republic of Cameroon

Finished

Magmatic Fluid Supply into Lakes Nyos and Monoun, and Mitigation of Natural Disasters through Capacity Building in Cameroon

Probing the Mystery of Limnic Eruptions that Release Clouds of CO₂

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  OHBA Takeshi
  School of Science, Tokai University

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Cameroon

Research Institutions in Japan

Tokai University / Toyama University / The University of Tokyo / Osaka University / Kumamoto University / Tohoku University

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Institute for Geological and Mining Research (IRGM)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2010

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Limnic eruption: a horrifying disaster that took 1,800 lives
Cameroon has many volcanos, some of them with lakes in their craters. In the 1980s, limnic eruptions occurred at two crater lakes, Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun, in which large quantities of CO₂ that had collected on the lake bottom suddenly erupted to the surface. 1,800 residents in the three villages at the foot of the volcano died from lack of oxygen, and there are concerns that the gas disaster may recur. This project will study both lakes and attempt to determine the CO₂ flows and explain the eruptions that occurred in the past. In addition to simulating limnic eruptions and determining the mechanism that causes them, an organization for monitoring the lakes will be established and comprehensive measures to prevent future disasters will be proposed.

Comprehensive study of two crater lakes in search of clues that will help explain the phenomenon
Analysis is being conducted from various perspectives, including lake water observation, study of CO₂ concentration, reaction analysis with surrounding rocks, and explanation of the CO₂ supply system. The goal is to establish an organization to continue and expand lake observation and study in order to predict gas disasters at both lakes.