Solved: The mystery of bubbles under a frozen lake
Have you ever had the chance of visiting a frozen lake? If yes, then you’ll agree that these gifts of nature are a feast to the eyes, to say the least. Some of them have a rather curious, additional feature: Giant circular patterns of glistening bubbles peeping from beneath and offering a breath-taking view. Many frozen lakes, like the Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada, are home to these spectacular bubbles. But what if we told you that these beautiful bubbles are dangerous and might burst at any time? Let’s unravel their mystery, starting from formation to the way they are trapped.
How do these bubbles form?
Bubbles are generated in water when bacteria decompose the dead creatures and plants present at the bottom of the lake. During the decomposition process, the bacteria release a harmful gas called methane, which forms bubbles inside the lake. During summer, these bubbles pop when they reach the lake’s surface, and thus, no one ever notices them. But during the winter, when the lake is frozen, the bubbles get trapped beneath the icy surface. The gas has nowhere to go and forms odd circular patterns that shine when sunlight falls on the lake.
Lakes with methane bubbles
Not only the Abraham Lake, this strange phenomenon of bubbles is a common occurrence in thousands of lakes up north, from Alberta to Alaska and Siberia to Scandinavia! However, the arctic ice in the North Pole has the greatest concentration of these bubbles. With so many lakes, imagine how much methane gas is produced yearly! No wonder it is stressing the climate scientists across the world!
Methane: A threat to the climate
You may know that the temperature is rising across the world. Because of the rising temperatures, ice is melting everywhere. Because of this, the frozen organic matter melts, providing more food for bacteria. More food for the bacteria means more methane gas is produced. Now, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which is 25 times more effective in trapping heat than carbon dioxide. So, more the methane in the atmosphere, greater the global warming! Also, methane gas is highly inflammable!
Reducing methane emissions
The primary source of global methane emissions is human activity. There are numerous ways in which we can minimize global methane emissions like eating less meat and dairy. Finally, the use of some chemicals by farmers can help turn farm waste (a key methane source) into cleaner and safer biogas. So together, we can limit methane emissions and slow down global warming!