New insights into volume estimates and gas contents from the acoustic investigation at Lake Monoun, Cameroon

Abstract

Acoustic equipment called the underwater data logger and the Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) are used in this study to provide a better resolution of the morphology of the Lake Monoun's basin and improve the assessment of adequate volume of its water and gas contents. The use of the high resolution multibeam sonar allowed to capture all the features of the lake borders and produce a highly accurate hypsographic curve and hence, provide a revised estimate of the gas contains in the lake. The presence of depressions, located on the floor of the main basin containing CO2 enriched fluid constitute probable sources of the gas feeding Lake Monoun.