We have investigated potential risk of gas eruption by air gun operation in a seismic survey on the Lake Kivu, East Africa, which contains a huge amount of gas dissolved in the water zone below a depth of 260 m. Measured data suggest that gas nucleation and bubble growth in a large body of water require super-saturated condition (pressure significantly lower than the bubble pressure (B. P.) and significant long relaxation time (> 1 second). Initial homogeneous gas nucleation in water enhances

more »

... scous behavior of gas exhaustion from a large body of water. Therefore, a seismic survey on the lake surface will not likely trigger gas outburst from the Lake Kivu.