A limnic eruption, also referred to as a lake overturn, is a rare type of natural disaster in which dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) suddenly erupts from deep lake waters, forming a gas cloud that can suffocate wildlife, livestock and humans. Such an eruption may also cause tsunamis in the lake as the rising CO2 displaces water. Scientists believe earthquakes, volcanic activity, or explosions can be a trigger for such phenomenon. Lakes in which such activity occurs may be known as limnically active lakes or exploding lakes. Some features of limnically active lakes include: \n* CO2-saturated incoming water \n* A cool lake bottom indicating an absence of direct volcanic interaction with lake waters \n* An upper and lower thermal layer with differing CO2 saturations \n* Proximity to areas with volcanic activity Scientists have recently determined, from investigations into the mass casualties in the 1980s at Lake Monoun and Lake Nyos, that although limnic eruptions can be indirectly related to volcanic eruptions, they are actually separate types of disaster events.

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