Fresh volcanic activity underneath Germany's Laacher See lake worrying experts

Jan 02, 2012 |

Agencies

London

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Fresh activity near a dormant 'super volcano' in Germany has left experts worried about a possible eruption.

Britain's Daily Mail wrote the eruption from the 'monster' underneath Laacher See lake near Bonn, could eject billions of tons of magma which in turn could cause widespead devastation in Europe and even 'short-term global cooling'.

The mountain last erupted 12,900 years ago.

Volcanologists have estimated the mountain's size to be similar to that of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines - responsible for the biggest ejection of the 20th century.

Pinatubo threw up '10 billion tons of magma, 20 billion tons of sulphur dioxide 16 cubic kilometres of ash and caused a 0.5C drop in global temperatures'.

Experts near the Laacher See site have detected carbon dioxide bubbles on the lake's surface and believe the mountain in Germany could be active again.

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