アイスバブル、冬の自然が作る芸術作品

アイスバブルは冬季厳寒期に発生する自然現象。湖底の腐食した植物群が発するメタンガスや、湖底から湧き出る火山性ガスが冬の湖が結氷する過程で氷中に閉じ込められたもの。北海道では東部地域、十勝北部の糠平湖や釧路北部の阿寒湖など湖盆地地形の場所、特に気温が下がり降雪の少ない地域で観測出来る。氷中に有るガスは多くが濃度の高いメタンガスで、簡単に引火するため危険。

Ice bubble, a work of art created by nature in winter.

Ice bubbles are a natural phenomenon that occurs during the severe winter cold. Methane gas emitted by corroded vegetation on the lake bottom and volcanic gases from the lake bottom are trapped in the ice during the process of winter lake icing. In Hokkaido, it can be observed in the eastern part of the island, in lake basins such as Lake Nukadaira in northern Tokachi and Lake Akan in northern Kushiro, especially in areas with low temperatures and little snowfall. The gases in the ice are mostly high-concentration methane gas, which is dangerous because it is easily ignited.