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SUMMARY:Double diffusion and methane in Lake Kivu – "Interfacing" enviro
 nmental science and engineering
DTSTART:20120312T121500
DTEND:20120312T131500
DTSTAMP:20260508T053548Z
UID:79b2ebcaba7ef18ad8b383aac91436ee8c5ca10c0e2db7ac7adf5a94
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Alfred Johny Wüest\nDouble-diffusive upward-directed fl
 uxes play a fascinating role in the accumulation of ~60 km3 of methane dis
 solved in the 485 m deep and permanently stratified Lake Kivu. Driven by a
  geothermal flux of ~50 mW m-2 and stratified by salt and carbon-dioxide (
 from deep subaquatic springs)\, double-diffusive conditions (density-ratio
  ~2 to ~10) have evolved: As a result\, a spectacular staircase of ~350 sh
 arp interfaces (down to ~2 mm) and well-mixed layers have formed probably 
 over centuries or even millennia.\n  Due to very strong stratification an
 d weak wind forcing\, turbulence is negligible and restricted to the conve
 ctively-driven double-diffusive layers. As a result\, the upward directed 
 fluxes from the subaquatic springs are small for the dissolved constituent
 s: Therefore\, not only salt and carbon-dioxide have accumulated in the de
 ep-water but also methane. It has reached harvestable concentrations and i
 s now a resource with a value of ~20 billion dollars.\nThe links from doub
 le-diffusion to methane accumulation and its harvesting is a wonderful exa
 mple for opportunities in combining environmental science and engineering.
LOCATION:GC A3 30 http://plan.epfl.ch/?lang=fr&room=GC+A3+30
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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