This work, written in an understandable way for the interested layperson, introduces into the unknown world of the CO 2 gas volcanoes, the so-called mofettes. A little explored world that lets animals die in the middle of Europe, changes the flora, influences soils and the atmosphere and can provide clues for upcoming volcanic eruptions. With the help of the botanical bioindication, such degassing points can also be found in the field and even used economically, e.g. in mineral water and fire extinguishers, for the preservation of food and for the healing of heart and skin diseases. In this biological-geological mofette guide, Prof. Hardy Pfanz explains where such phenomena can be found in Germany, but also worldwide, and what they tell us. He also reveals - with a wink - one or the other extraordinary and legendary thing about mofettes.
Author(s): Hardy Pfanz
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 224
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Acknowledgements
Contents
1: Introduction
2: Magmatic, Volcanic and Other Geogenic Gas Exhalations
2.1 Solfataras
2.2 Fumaroles
2.2.1 Hot Geysers
2.3 Methane Emissions
2.3.1 Mud Volcanoes
2.3.2 Eternal Fire
2.3.3 Submarine Methane Sources
2.4 Black and White Smokers
2.5 CO2 Emissions
3: Mofettes
3.1 What Are Mofettes
3.2 Eu-Mofettes – Genuine Mofettes
3.2.1 Dry or Wet Mofettes?
3.3 Aquatic Mofettes
3.4 Gas-Powered Cold-Water Geysers or Bubblers
3.5 Acid Springs and Wells
3.6 Iron Ochre
3.7 Biogenic Decalcification
3.7.1 Carbonate Can Be Hard
3.7.2 The Stony Grooves or Gutters
3.8 Wandering Mofettes
3.9 Pseudo-Mofettes
3.9.1 Degraded Peatlands – Sauerland
3.9.2 “Seismo-Tectonically” Induced Changes in Geogenic CO2 Release
3.9.3 Biogenic Soil Respiration
3.10 Is It Possible to Search for Mofettes?
4: Geological-Volcanological Basics
5: Carbon Dioxide: The Decisive Parameter for Mofettes
5.1 Nomenclature
5.2 The Physico-Chemical Properties of CO2
5.2.1 Odour and Taste
5.2.2 Water Solubility
5.2.3 The Acid Effect
5.2.3.1 Buffering of CO2 in the Ocean
5.2.3.2 The Human Mofette: The Stomach as a Reaction Chamber
5.2.3.3 Opening Beer and Champagne Bottles
5.2.4 Absorption of Thermal Radiation
5.2.5 The Specific Density
5.2.5.1 Carbon Dioxide Forms Gas Lakes and Gas Streams
5.2.6 Visibility of the Gas
5.2.7 The Displacement of Oxygen
5.3 The Toxicity of Carbon Dioxide
6: Mofettes as Habitats
6.1 Plants in Mofettes
6.1.1 Plants Perish
6.1.2 Growth and Habitus of Plants in Mofettes
6.2 Adapted Plants Can Grow – The Azonal Vegetation
6.2.1 Clear Boundaries
6.2.1.1 The “Pathway Mofette” – The Smallest Known Mofette with Zoned Vegetation
6.2.1.2 The “Onion Skin” Growth in Caprese Michelangelo
6.2.1.3 Cotton Grass and Meadow Sedge Belt
6.3 Physiological Adaptations of Plants
6.3.1 Nutrient Elements in Mofette Plants
6.4 Mofettophilia and Mofettophobia
6.5 CO2 and Trees
6.5.1 The Problem of the Swale
6.6 The Hot ‘Fumarolic’ Mofettes of the Azores
6.7 Mofettes Seen from Above
7: Bacteria and Fungi
7.1 Bacteria and Archaea
7.2 Fungi
7.2.1 Umbelopsis
7.2.2 Mushrooms Fungi in Mofette Soils
7.2.3 The Soil Yeasts
8: Animals
8.1 Animals Die
8.2 Thanatocoenoses – Animal Cemetries
8.2.1 Why Do So Many Different Animals End Up in the CO2 Death Trap?
8.3 Animal Life in the CO2-Gas Gradient
8.3.1 Springtails and Nematodes
8.4 Animals Mark CO2-Emission Borders
8.4.1 Moles
8.4.2 Swallows
8.4.3 Bats
8.4.4 Wild Boar
8.5 The Deliberate Killing of Animals
8.5.1 Grotta del Cane
8.5.2 La Grotte du Chien a Royat
9: Mofettes and Climate
9.1 Mofettes and the Microclimate
9.2 The Bossoleto CO2 Gas Valley
9.2.1 The CO2 Diurnal Cycle
9.2.2 Cloud formation in Bossoleto
9.3 Bad Pyrmont
9.4 Mofettes and the Global Climate
10: The Soils in Mofettes
10.1 The Gas within the Soil
10.1.1 The Transect Display
10.1.2 The Area Depiction
10.1.3 The Cube Depiction of Soil Monoliths
10.2 The CO2 to Oxygen Ratio
10.3 pH Values in Mofette Soils
10.4 Buffering of the Soil
10.5 The Humus Content of Mofette Soils
10.6 The Mineral Content
11: The Importance and Use of Mofettes
11.1 Economic Use
11.1.1 The Production of Mineral Waters
11.1.2 Production of Chemicals
11.1.3 The Production of Dry Ice
11.1.4 CO2 in the Production, Processing and Preservation of Foodstuffs
11.1.5 CO2 in Pest Control
11.1.6 CO2 in Fire Fighting
11.1.7 CO2 and Plant Fertilization
11.2 The Drilling and Production of CO2 Gas
11.2.1 Fighting the Greenhouse Effect
11.3 The Medical Use of Mofettes
11.3.1 Cures and Balneology
11.3.2 Poorly Healing Wounds
11.4 Mofettes and Tourism: Geo-Biotopes
11.5 Italy: Campi Flegrei
11.5.1 Czech Republic: Soos
11.6 Germany: The Volcanic Eifel
12: The Mythical-Ethnological Significance of CO2−degassing
12.1 Mythical Places and Sacrificial Sites
12.1.1 Oracle Sites
12.1.2 The Ancient Entrances to Hell
12.1.2.1 The Entrance to Hell in Hierapolis
12.1.2.2 The Descendants of Typhon and Echidna: Pure Gas Monsters?
13: Danger from CO2: Human Tragedies
13.1 Mammoth: Horseshoe Lake
13.2 Djeng Plateau
13.3 African Volcanic Lakes: Monoun and Nyos in Cameroon
13.4 Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira
13.5 Two Gruesome Stories from the Laacher Lake
13.5.1 The Death of the Young Monks
13.5.2 The Question of Plausibility
13.5.3 The Bayer Hole at Lake Laach
14: Mofexotic Stories and Mofette Pareidolia
14.1 Trapped Gas Bubbles
14.1.1 Ice Sheet and CO2 Gas
14.1.2 The Carbonate Crust
14.2 The Splash Stone
14.3 Bubble Games
14.3.1 Floating of Soap Bubbles
14.3.2 Changes in the Bubble Layer
14.4 The Sinking of the Greek Meadow Island Micro-Mephitos (μικρό μεφίτος)
14.5 Mofety Gouláš
14.6 Coot, Wild Boar and Wapiti Deer
14.7 The Maize La Ola-Wave
14.8 CO2 Makes You Fat
14.9 CO2 Makes You Sexy
14.10 The Pope and the Mofettes
14.11 Blasphemous Carbon Dioxide
14.12 Pareidolia
14.12.1 Mephitic Devilspotting
15: Epilogue: Protection of Mofettes
Literature Cited and Further Reading
From Net
Index
