On August 21, 1986, a catastrophic “Limnic Eruption” occurred at Lake Nyos in Cameroon. The lake, which sits inside a volcanic crater, had been quietly accumulating massive amounts of carbon dioxide at the bottom for centuries. That night, something triggered the gas to release—likely a landslide. The lake suddenly “burped,” expelling a massive cloud of CO2 estimated at 1.6 million tons. Being heavier than air, the gas cloud hugged the ground and flowed down the valley at 60 mph, displacing all

What should you do during a limnic eruption? | What If