LAKE NYOS GAS DISASTER, CAMEROON, WEST AFRICA

1986年8月21日，喀麦隆的尼奥斯湖喷发出一团二氧化碳气体，导致1700多人死亡。随后，包括美国在内的几个国家的科学小组立即前往现场，协助喀麦隆政府确定这场灾难的科学原因。当时，美国团队对尼奥斯湖和该地区的其他一些湖泊进行了基线测量，收集了样本，并尽可能多地了解了一般地质情况。然而，目前还不清楚二氧化碳是在湖里停留了一段时间，还是只是从火山源头经过；喷发的机制还不清楚。为了充分了解这些问题，随着时间的推移进行测量是必要的，这个奖项将允许美国团队的成员在1987年春天进行额外的测量。美国队的联合领队约翰·洛克伍德在3月份喀麦隆政府召集的一次会议之后，将在球场上再呆两周，他将获得参加会议的费用。乔治·克林和威廉·埃文斯将在一个月后前往喀麦隆，对尼奥斯湖和几个类似的火山湖进行后续测量。

On August 21, 1986 Lake Nyos in Cameroon erupted a cloud of carbon dioxide gas which killed over 1,700 people. Immediately thereafter scientific teams from several countries including the U.S. visited the scene to assist the Cameroon government in determining the scientific causes for this disaster. At that time, the American team took baseline measurements of Lake Nyos and some other lakes in the area, collected samples and learned as much as they could about the general geology. At present, however, it is not clear whether the carbon dioxide resided in the lake for some time or simply passed through on its way from a volcanic source; the mechanism of eruption is not yet clear. In order to fully understand these issues, measurements over time are necessary and this award will allow members of the American team to take additional measurements in the Spring of 1987. John Lockwood, the co-leader of the American team will spend an additional two weeks in the field following a meeting called by the Cameroon government in March, to which his way will be paid. George Kling and William Evans will go to Cameroon a month later to do follow- up measurements on Lake Nyos and several similar volcanic lakes.