marsh gas
Wetland decay fumes
Marsh gas is methane produced by decaying organic matter in swamps, bogs, and other wetlands.
The gas bubbles up through stagnant water and can ignite spontaneously, creating the flickering lights known as will-o'-the-wisps.
The term is old-fashioned; chemists and engineers now simply say methane.
Methane's molecular formula
- hydrocarbonAll-carbon-and-hydrogen compound
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- digestersVessels for decomposition
microbial · bacteria · organic decay · carbon cycle · geochemistry · seepage · permafrost · ruminants
Misleading light over wetlands
- jack-o'-lanternCarved pumpkin with light
- spontaneous ignitionCombustion without external spark
- blue flameComplete combustion's glow
- flickeringShining unsteadily, intermittently
combustible · explosive · mine explosion · safety lamp · Davy lamp · flash fire
Waterlogged land with vegetation
peat · bayou · slough · reedbed · sedge · cattail · stagnant water · decomposition
Rising planetary temperatures
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
permafrost melt · feedback loop · environmental impact · pollution · sustainability
Spectral flame foretelling death
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- graveyardPlot for interring the dead
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
nocturnal · legend · superstition · omen
CH4
Methane's molecular formula
- hydrocarbonAll-carbon-and-hydrogen compound
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
digesters · microbial · bacteria · organic decay · carbon cycle · geochemistry · seepage · permafrost · ruminants · flatulence
will-o'-the-wisp
Misleading light over wetlands
- jack-o'-lanternCarved pumpkin with light
- spontaneous ignitionCombustion without external spark
- blue flameComplete combustion's glow
flickering · combustible · explosive · mine explosion · safety lamp · Davy lamp · flash fire
swamp
Waterlogged land with vegetation
quagmire · peat · bayou · slough · reedbed · sedge · cattail · stagnant water · decomposition · mud
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
carbon footprint · permafrost melt · feedback loop · environmental impact · pollution · sustainability
corpse candle
Spectral flame foretelling death
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- graveyardPlot for interring the dead
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
mysterious · nocturnal · legend · superstition · omen
gas, marsh, marshy, marshes, marshland, marshlands, marshiness, marshlike, marshier