How are methane bubbles formed on Lake Baikal and why are they dangerous?
Gas bubbles in the ice are one of the most fascinating natural phenomena of Lake Baikal, which delights tourists every year. However, russian researchers do not share the joys of travelers. Large bubbles of methane are time bombs, ready to explode at any moment.
Explosive Baikal
Every winter, Baikal ice is filled with unusual white bubbles of different diameters. This is methane, which forms deep at the bottom of the lake and freezes on the surface in winter. If you drill a small hole in the bubble and bring a match to it, the place will flare up like a gas burner.
Methane bubbles are formed on Baikal during the decomposition of gas hydrates.
Gas hydrate is a crystalline compound of gas and water formed under conditions of high deep water pressure and low temperature. By the way, outwardly, the crystals resemble ordinary ice of cloudy white color.
According to the chemical structure, they are clathrates. In them, water molecules, when combined, form a cavity into which a gas molecule is embedded. When the temperature rises or the pressure decreases, the structure collapses and the gas escapes.
Methane itself is inevitably released in any reservoir densely populated with fish as a decomposition product of organic matter. However, lakes emit from 6 to 16% of all atmospheric methane. In deep lakes, seas and oceans, the gas crystallizes under pressure and remains at the bottom in the form of methane hydrate.
On Baikal, whose depth of 1500 meters is comparable to the ocean, hydrates are destroyed for some reason. The crystal "melts" and releases methane. russian scientists suggest that tectonic movements, landslides or too rapid accumulation of gas hydrates themselves may be to blame.
Why is it dangerous?
Until recently, the release of methane occurred in the form of small bubbles. However, since 2020, scientists have increasingly begun to record the exit of large bubbles.
One of these formations, frozen into the ice, was discovered from a satellite. Such bubbles are released accompanied by a strong explosive roar and pose a serious threat to passing ships.
"Exhausts" may well turn the ship over and put it to the bottom. A similar story was repeated in the Bermuda Triangle: this is one of the main versions that explains the loss of ships in this anomalous place. However, methane poses the greatest threat to the atmosphere. As a greenhouse gas, it is 30 times more dangerous than CO₂.
Gas bubbles on Baikal are not only an unusual phenomenon. An increase in methane emissions will clearly affect the region in a bad way. Watching and waiting or sounding the alarm - it's up to us to decide if we want to preserve nature.
