Mapping lava flows with groundbreaking field instrument

In Review of Scientific Instruments, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the University at 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.

The issue, according to Harris, is that viscosity measurements are almost always conducted in a lab. This makes the experiments easier and safer, but a key piece is always missing.

"When lava erupts from a volcano, a lot of different gases are trapped as bubbles within the lava," said Harris. "When we do measurements in the lab, we cannot put the gas back in. So, what we measure is a representation of the lava without all the different components, and we miss something that influences how the lava can flow."

The only solution is to take measurements in the field. This, however, comes with its own set of challenges. Field viscosity measurements on lava date back nearly a century without much success. Many past attempts have featured metal rods inserted into lava, pushed by hand or by spring-loaded piston, or even fired into the lava like a spear, to estimate the viscosity of the flow.

The University at Buffalo team kept the classic metal rod and attached it to a force gauge for accurate measurements. They coupled it with a second rod to measure displacement and designed the entire instrument to be both lightweight enough to be hand-held and durable enough to hold up in a volcanic environment.

After finishing the device, the team tested it on a trip to an active volcano in Iceland.

"We spent almost two weeks accessing different locations around the Litli-Hrútur eruption," said Harris. "It was a lot of very long hours in a pretty intense environment, but I think in the end, we were all really impressed and satisfied with the work that we were able to do."

In their field trial, the researchers collected dozens of measurements of the lava in different locations and at different times. This type of data is crucial, they say, as it shows not just what the lava is like in a single moment but how it evolves as it spreads and cools.

"It was the first time that people have done these measurements across these different transects of the lavas," said Harris. "The really exciting thing about this instrument is that we were able to show this change in the physical properties of the lava with time and space."

The team hopes to further refine their instrument and make it available to research groups and monitoring stations at volcanoes around the world.