Geologists recently published a research report in the latest issue of the British journal Nature Geoscience that the Lake Tanganyika in Africa, the world's second deepest lake, is in a period of high water temperature in the past 1500 years.
The report was made by geologists after three years' investigation. Geologists have analyzed the rocks taken from the bottom of the lake's crust. They believe that climate change over the centuries has led to the continuous warming of Lake Tanganyika. The lake surface temperature has now reached 26 degrees Celsius, the highest since 500 A.D.
Geologists believe that the lake water temperature has accelerated since the end of the last century, and the rising concentration of greenhouse gases may be the driving force for the temperature rise. Geologists warn that warming will destroy the ecological balance of Lake Tanganyika. As the water temperature rises, it is difficult for aquatic plants at the bottom of the food chain to get sufficient nutrients, which will affect aquaculture.
Lake Tanganyika is located in the Western rift valley of the East African Rift Valley. It is the second deepest lake and the second oldest lake in the world. Water and fish from Lake Tanganyika are the main source of drinking water and aquatic products of about 10 million of the population around Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Congo Democratic Republic.