Current status of Lakes Nyos and Monoun, Cameroon

Warnings have been repeatedly issued for a potential recurrence of the limnic eruption in the near future at Lakes Nyos and Monoun (Cameroon), because the amount of CO2 dissolved in the lakes is increasing at an alarming rate. At the same time a recommendation has been presented that the gases should be removed (Freeth et al., 1990, Kling et al. 1994, Evans et al., 1994, Kusakabe, 1996, Kusakabe et al., 2000). Following the successful degassing experiments at Lake Monoun in 1992 (Halbwachs et al., 1993) and at Lake Nyos in 1995 (Halbwachs ’ home page, 2001