Millions of people live near active volcanoes that are constantly monitored for signs of an impending eruption.
Millions of people live near active volcanoes that are constantly monitored for signs of an impending eruption. When one occurs, scientists and governments rely on data to estimate the extent of the possible damage, informing evacuation plans and disaster response efforts. The nature of eruptions, unfortunately, means collecting data about them can sometimes be as challenging as organizing a response.
In Review of Scientific Instruments, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the University of Buffalo developed a tool for measuring the viscosity of lava that could increase our understanding of molten rock as well as better improve models of its movement, giving authorities crucial guidance for keeping people safe.
For fluids like lava, viscosity is the measurement of how fast it flows. A low-viscosity fluid flows fast like water, while a viscous fluid acts more like molasses. When a volcano erupts close to human structures, viscosity measurements tell first responders how much time they have to react, and current methods are often insufficient.
“In places like Iceland or Hawaii that have pretty frequent lava eruptions that impact infrastructure like roads and communities, there is uncertainty involved with the estimation of where the lava may travel and how quickly it may go there,” said author Martin Harris.
Read more at American Institute of Physics
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