Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 2 March 1973:
Vol. 179. no. 4076, pp. 891 - 892
DOI: 10.1126/science.179.4076.891
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Coal Mine Explosions: Seasonal Trends

Fred N. Kissell 1, Allan E. Nagel 1, and Michael G. Zabetakis 1

1 Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

An analysis of disaster reports on coal mine explosions indicates that gas explosions are randomly distributed throughout the year, whereas dust explosions (which may or may not be triggered by a gas explosion) occur with greater frequency during the dry fall and winter months. The lack of adequate moisture during cold weather tends to increase the rate and severity of the dust explosions.

To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)