Rheology Of Lava Flows Research Articles

Andesitic flow rheology of Mount Popa volcano, Myanmar

Mount Popa is a conspicuous dormant volcano, which lies on the volcanic island arc (NS-trending central volcanic line) through the Central Myanmar Basin tectonically. The rheology of lava flows is determined by the phenocryst distribution in the andesitic rocks of Mount Popa, Myanmar. Particularly, the andesitic rock units are differentiated as V1-flow andesite, Nagale-Legyingon plateau andesite, Popa plateau andesite, V3-flow andesite, and V4-flow andesite. The different flow units are megascopic ally very similar in color and texture to porphyritic andesite or augite andesite but different in grain size, and the amount of phenocryst. The phenocryst distribution is graphically correlated with the Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow to interpret the rheology of lava flow during the Pliocene-Holocene eruption of the Mount Popa volcano. A new method which is simplest and practiced to identify the porphyritic andesitic rocks or lava flows not only for the stratigraphy but also the rheology.

Rheological properties and ages of lava flows on Alba Mons, Mars

We present the results of our studies of the rheological properties and ages on Alba Mons lava flows. Previous studies have shown that the rheology of lava flows, such as yield strength and viscosity, as well as external parameters affecting flow characteristics, such as effusion rate and eruption duration can be derived by remotely sensed dimension measurements. The calculations made in this study are based on images obtained from the Context Camera (CTX) on board of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) as well as data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). Absolute model ages (AMAs) have been derived by performing crater size-frequency distribution (CSFD) measurements on CTX images. The main objectives of this investigation are not only the calculation of the rheological properties and ages, but also the analysis of possible correlations between the rheologies, ages and distances of the flows to the volcano's center. A comparison of the rheological properties of the investigated lavas with those reported for flows on other planetary bodies was also performed. The aim of the study is a better insight into the history of one of the largest volcanoes in the Solar System. We provide new information about the formation and composition of the volcano's lava flows, whether they changed over time, and until when Alba Mons has been active.In total, 29 lava flows close to the summit of Alba Mons were mapped and measured. The calculated yield strengths are 2.79 × 103 Pa on average, ranging from 4.00 × 102 Pa to 9.61 × 103 Pa. We found effusion rates between 46 m3 s−1 and 1528 m3 s−1 with an average effusion rate of 636 m3 s−1. The derived viscosity is on the order of 1.04 × 107 Pa s with values between 1.27 × 105 Pa s and 1.0 × 108 Pa s. The lavas have erupted over a period of 11 to 223 days, with an average eruption duration of 68 days. The rheological properties derived in this investigation are very similar to those of other volcanic regions on Mars, especially Elysium Mons and Elysium Planitia. However, they differ from calculated rheologies of previous studies of venusian lavas and lunar lava flows. Based on the derived yield strength and viscosity values, the composition of the lava flows can be inferred as basaltic/basaltic-andesitic, which is analog to terrestrial basaltic or andesitic a'a lava flows. Significant correlations between the rheological properties and the distance to Alba Mons' center have not been found. AMAs could be derived for 14 of the 29 lava flows investigated, because 15 lava flows have either reached the state of equilibration or have too few impact craters to derive reliable model ages. The AMAs range from 130 ± 40 Ma to 810 ± 60 Ma. The results indicate a late volcanic activity at Alba Mons. Correlations between the AMAs and distance to the volcano's center, as well as between the rheological properties and AMAs were not observed.

High temperature spectral emissivity of glass and crystal-bearing basalts

Temperature is a key parameter controlling the rheology of lava flows. However, the unpredictable hazard of eruptions prevents direct measurements of hot volcanic bodies. Thus, the temperature of lava products is mostly retrieved by remote sensing techniques (ground- or satellite-based detectors) build on measuring infrared (IR) radiance. These well-established techniques are however subjected to important errors related to the poor knowledge of one of the most critical parameters, namely spectral emissivity. The aim of our study is to fill this gap by exploring the emissivity–temperature relationship of three different basalts. We performed in situ emissivity measurements at high temperatures (up to 1800 K) over a wide spectral range (350–8000 cm−1; 1.25–28.6 μm), using a non-contact IR apparatus. To unravel the complex radiative behavior of the samples with temperature, structural, chemical and textural analyses using Raman spectroscopy, XRD, DSC, SEM, EMPA and TEM were systematically performed. Our results show that spectral emissivity varies with temperature, wavenumber, and the sample degree of polymerization combined with total FeO content. Spectral emissivity is greatly affected by the crystallization of Fe-Mg-rich crystals at the micro-scale. Consequently, this study proves that spectral emissivity cannot be assumed constant for a single magmatic composition. Finally, our laboratory-measured values of spectral emissivity allowed refining the remote sensing temperature of the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption (Bárðarbunga, volcano) by 50 K in average. These new insights will ultimately reduce uncertainties in temperature estimates based on IR technology, information that are crucial to improve hazard assessment in volcanic crisis.

High-resolution imaging of hydrothermal heat flux using optical and thermal Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry

Quantifying hydrothermal heat flux at meter-scale resolution over >0.25 km2 is required to bridge in-situ heat flux and satellite-based measurements. We advance a methodology that blends ground-based daytime optical and nighttime thermal infrared (TIR) imagery using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry to map radiant hydrothermal heat flux over these scales at sites with low signal-to-noise ratios that would otherwise be difficult to characterize using, for example, unmanned aerial systems. The improved method uses a computerized telescopic mount to relocate and align daytime optical acquisitions with nighttime TIR imagery, thereby enabling TIR acquisition from multiple camera orientations positioned throughout a study area. This facilitates mapping of thermal features at sites of varying size and complexity and helps to ameliorate topographic occlusion effects and geometric distortions that can bias radiant hydrothermal heat flux estimates derived from the resulting orthorectified thermal maps. We assessed detection thresholds of this method at three sites across central California, which range in size, topography, and heat flux conditions. We found that blending of optical and thermal acquisitions successfully detected anomalous heat flux, even in cases where temperatures were only slightly greater than background. This approach might be applied to a variety of volcanic and hydrothermal systems to quantify the spatial distribution of heat flux, and how this may relate to factors such as the distribution of ground fractures and lava flow rheology.

Multiple-generation folding and non-coaxial strain of lava crusts

Viscoelastic strain in lava flows is commonly expressed as gravity-driven buckling of the lava crust. This surface folding process creates the well-known ropy pāhoehoe texture of basaltic lavas and the ogives and surface ridges of more compositionally evolved lava flows. Previous work has shown that surface fold wavelengths are proportional to the viscosity contrast between the lava crust and core, and to the thickness of the crust. Thus, fold analysis can be an important tool for understanding lava flow rheology. We analyze fold wavelength patterns of solidified natural lava flows from the Myvatn lava fields (Iceland), Piton de La Fournaise (La Reunion), and experimental lava flows from the Syracuse University Lava Project. In each case, lava flows exhibited two dominant wavelengths, consistent with multiple generations of coaxial folding. The ratio of the two dominant wavelengths for basalt (Iceland, La Reunion) is ~ 5:1 whereas the wavelength ratio for basaltic andesite (Syracuse) is ~ 3:1, suggesting a compositional control on deformation, as proposed by previous studies. Video analysis of incrementally folded Syracuse lava crusts reveals significant non-coaxial strain, which violates the assumptions of plane strain used in crustal buckling models. These results show that interpreting lava rheology from finite strain requires careful consideration of complex three-dimensional strain fields. Despite these complexities, the correlation between fold wavelength ratios and lava flow composition persists and may provide important insight into flow characterization.

The effect of inflation on the morphology-derived rheological parameters of lava flows and its implications for interpreting remote sensing data - A case study on the 2014/2015 eruption at Holuhraun, Iceland

Morphology-derived lava flow rheology is a frequently used tool in volcanology and planetary science to determine rheological parameters and deduce the composition of lavas on terrestrial planets and their moons. These calculations are usually based on physical equations incorporating 1) lava flow driving forces: gravity, slope and flow-rate and 2) morphological data such as lava flow geometry: flow-width, -height or shape of the flow outline. All available methods assume that no geometrical changes occur after emplacement and that the measured flow geometry reflects the lava's apparent viscosity and/or yield strength during emplacement. It is however well-established from terrestrial examples that lava flows may inflate significantly after the cessation of flow advance. This inflation affects, in turn, the width-to-height ratio upon which the rheological estimates are based and thus must result in uncertainties in the determination of flow rheology, as the flow height is one of the key parameters in the morphology-based deduction of flow properties. Previous studies have recognized this issue but, to date, no assessment of the magnitude of this error has been presented. This is likely due to a lack of digital elevation models (DEMs) at sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution.The 2014/15 Holuhraun eruption in central Iceland represents one of the best monitored large volume (1.5 km3) lava flow fields (85 km2) to date. An abundance of scientific field and remote sensing data were collected during its emplacement. Moreover, inflation plays a key role in the emplacement dynamics of the late stage of the lava field. Here, we use a time series of high resolution DEMs acquired by the TanDEM-X satellite mission prior, during and after the eruption to evaluate the error associated with the most common methods of deriving lava flow rheology from morphological parameters used in planetary science.We can distinguish two dominant processes as sources of error in the determination of lava flow rheology from morphology 1) wholesale inflation of lava channels and 2) post halting inflation of individual lava toes. These result in a 2.4- to 17 - fold overestimation of apparent viscosity and a 0.7- to 2.4 - fold overestimation of yield strength. When applied in planetary sciences, this overestimation in rheological parameters translates directly to an overestimation of the respective lavas silica content. We conclude that, although qualitatively informative, morphological analysis is insufficient to discern lava rheology and composition. Instead, in-situ analysis together with high resolution remote sensing data is needed to properly constrain the compositions involved in planetary volcanism.

GPUSPH: a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics model for the thermal and rheological evolution of lava flows

Abstract GPUSPH is a fully three-dimensional model for the simulation of the thermal and rheological evolution of lava flows that relies on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical method. Thanks to the Lagrangian, meshless nature of SPH, the model incorporates a more complete physical description of the emplacement process and rheology of lava that considers the free surface, the irregular boundaries represented by the topography, the solidification fronts and the non-Newtonian rheology with temperature-dependent parameters. GPUSPH follows the very general Herschel–Bulkley rheological model, which encompasses Newtonian, power-law and Bingham flow behaviours, with both constant and temperature-dependent parameters, and can thus be used to explore in detail the impact of rheology on the behaviour of lava flows and on their emplacement. To illustrate this possibility, we present some preliminary applications of the model for studying the rheology of lava flows with different constitutive relationships and thermal regimes using the real topography of the Mt Etna volcano.

Rheology of lava flows on Mercury: An analog experimental study

We experimentally determined the rheological evolution of three basaltic analog compositions appropriate to Mercury's surface, during cooling, and crystallization. Investigated compositions are an enstatite basalt, and two magnesian basalts representing the compositional end-members of the northern volcanic plains with 0.19 wt % (NVP) and 6.26 wt % Na2O (NVP-Na). The viscosity-strain rate dependence of lava was quantified using concentric cylinder viscometry. We measured the viscosities of the crystal-free liquids from 1600°C down to the first detection of crystals. Liquidus temperatures of the three compositions studied are around 1360°C, and all three compositions are more viscous than Hawaiian basalt at the same temperature. The onset of pseudoplastic behavior was observed at crystal fractions ~0.05 to 0.10, which is consistent with previous studies on mafic lavas. We show that all lavas develop detectable yield strengths at crystal fractions around 0.20, beyond which the two-phase suspensions are better described as Herschel-Bulkley fluids. By analogy with the viscosity-strain rate conditions at which the pahoehoe to `a`a transition occurs in Kilauea basalt, this transition is predicted to occur at ~1260 ± 10°C for the enstatite basalt, at ~1285 ± 20°C for the NVP, and at ~1240 ± 40°C for the NVP-Na lavas. Our results indicate that Mercury lavas are broadly similar to terrestrial ones, which suggests that the extensive smooth lava plains of Mercury could be due to large effusion rates (flood basalts) and not to unusually fluid lavas.

Lava flow rheology: A comparison of morphological and petrological methods

In planetary sciences, the emplacement of lava flows is commonly modelled using a single rheological parameter (apparent viscosity or apparent yield strength) calculated from morphological dimensions using Jeffreysʼ and Hulmeʼs equations. The rheological parameter is then typically further interpreted in terms of the nature and chemical composition of the lava (e.g., mafic or felsic). Without the possibility of direct sampling of the erupted material, the validity of this approach has remained largely untested. In modern volcanology, the complex rheological behaviour of lavas is measured and modelled as a function of chemical composition of the liquid phase, fractions of crystals and bubbles, temperature and strain rate. Here, we test the planetary approach using a terrestrial basaltic lava flow from the Western Volcanic Zone in Iceland. The geometric parameters required to employ Jeffreysʼ and Hulmeʼs equations are accurately estimated from high-resolution HRSC-AX Digital Elevation Models. Samples collected along the lava flow are used to constrain a detailed model of the transient rheology as a function of cooling, crystallisation, and compositional evolution of the residual melt during emplacement. We observe that the viscosity derived from the morphology corresponds to the value estimated when significant crystallisation inhibits viscous deformation, causing the flow to halt. As a consequence, the inferred viscosity is highly dependent on the details of the crystallisation sequence and crystal shapes, and as such, is neither uniquely nor simply related to the bulk chemical composition of the erupted material. This conclusion, drawn for a mafic lava flow where crystallisation is the primary process responsible for the increase of the viscosity during emplacement, should apply to most of martian, lunar, or mercurian volcanic landforms, which are dominated by basaltic compositions. However, it may not apply to felsic lavas where vitrification resulting from degassing and cooling may ultimately cause lava flows to halt.

Investigating lava flow rheology using video analysis and numerical flow models

Lava rheology is a major control on lava flow behavior and a critical parameter in flow simulations, but is very difficult to measure at field conditions or correctly extrapolate from the lab scale. We present a new methodology for investigating lava rheology through a combination of controlled experiments, image analysis and numerical forward modeling. Our experimental setup, part of the Syracuse University Lava Project (http://lavaproject.syr.edu) includes a large furnace capable of melting up to 450kg of basalt, at temperatures well above the basalt liquidus. The lava is poured onto either a tilted bed of sand or a steel channel to produce meter-long flows. This experimental setup is probably the only facility that allows such large scale controlled lava flows made of natural basaltic material.We document the motion of the lava using a high-resolution video camera placed directly above the flows, and the temperature using infrared probes and cameras. After collecting the footage, we analyze the images for lava deformation and compare with numerical forward-models to constrain the rheological parameters and laws which best describe the flowing lava. For the video analysis, we employ the technique of Differential Optical Flow, which uses the time-variations of the spatial gradients of the image intensity to estimate velocity between consecutive frames. An important benefit for using optical flow, compared with other velocimetry methods, is that it outputs a spatially coherent flow field rather than point measurements. We demonstrate that the optical flow results agree with other measures of the flow velocity, and estimate the error due to noise and time-variability to be under 30% of the measured velocity.Our forward-models are calculated by solving the Stokes flow equations on an unstructured finite-element mesh defined using the geometry of the observed flow itself. We explore a range of rheological parameters, including the lava's apparent viscosity, the power-law exponent m and the thermal activation energy. Our measurements of apparent viscosity agree well with predictions of the composition-based Shaw (1972) and GRD model (Giordano, Russell and Dingwell, 2008). We find that for the high-temperature portion of the flow a weakly shear-thinning or Newtonian rheology (m>0.7) with an effective activation energy of B=5500J gives the best fit to the data.Our methodology is the first time that high-resolution optical flow analysis of flowing lava is combined with numerical flow models to constrain rheology. The methodology we present here can be used in field conditions to obtain in-situ information on lava rheology, without physical interaction with the flow and without being limited to point-wise, low strain-rate, local measurements currently available through the use of rotational viscometers in the field.

Shield volcano topography and the rheology of lava flows on Io

Stereo and photoclinometry derived topography of shield-like volcanoes on Io indicate little relief (<3 km) and very low slopes (0.2° to 0.6°). Several shield volcanoes appear to be associated with broad rises of 1 to 3 km, but only 5 shield volcanoes have been identified with steep flank slopes (between 4° and 10°). These steep slopes are restricted to within 20–30 km of the summit, but where discernable, most of the lava flows observed on these edifices occur on the outer flanks where slopes are less than a degree. Despite their abundance, ionian shield volcanoes are among the flattest in the Solar System. The steepest volcanoes on Io are most comparable to large venusian shield volcanoes. Using simplistic Bingham rheologies we estimate the viscosity and yield strengths of ionian lavas. Yield strengths are estimated at 10 1–10 2 Pa, lower than most basaltic lavas. Viscosity estimates range from 10 3 to 10 5 Pa s, although these are probably upper limits. Actual values may have been as low as 10 0 Pa s. Viscosity is sensitive to flow velocity, which is poorly known on Io. The best constraint on flow velocity comes from observations of the 1997 Pillan eruption, which bracket the eruptive phase to 132 day maximum, and more probably less than 50 days. Low slopes, long run-out distances and our estimated rheologic properties are consistent with (but not proof of) a low silica, low viscosity, high temperature composition for ionian lavas, supporting arguments for low-silica lava compositions such as basalt or komatiite. We cannot eliminate sulfur on rheologic grounds, however.

The long-term growth of volcanic edifices: numerical modelling of the role of dyke intrusion and lava-flow emplacement

The contribution of intrusive complexes to volcano growth is attested by field observations and by the monitoring of active volcanoes. We used numerical simulations to quantitatively estimate the relative contributions to volcano growth of elastic dislocations related to dyke intrusions and of the accumulation of lava flows. The ground uplift induced by dyke intrusions was calculated with the equations of Okada (Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 75 (1985) 1135). The spreading of lava flows was simulated as the flow of a Bingham fluid. With realistic parameters for dyke statistics and lava-flow rheology we find the contribution of dyke intrusions to the growth of a basaltic shield archetype to be about 13% in terms of volume and 30% in terms of height. The result is strongly dependent on the proportion of dykes reaching the surface to feed a lava flow. Systematic testing of the model indicates that edifices tend to be high and steep if dykes are thick and high, issued from a small and shallow magma chamber, and if they feed lava flows of high yield strength. The simulation was applied to Ko'olau (O'ahu Is., Hawai'i) and Piton de la Fournaise (Réunion Is.) volcanoes. The simulation of Ko'olau with dyke parameters as described by Walker (Geology, 14 (1986) 310; U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 1350 (1987) 961) and with lava-flow characteristics collected at Kilauea volcano (Hawai'i Is.) results in an edifice morphology very close to that of the real volcano. The best fit model of the Piton de la Fournaise central cone, with its steep slope and E–W elongation, is obtained by the intrusion of 10 000 short and thick dykes issued from a very small and shallow magma chamber and feeding only 700 low-volume lava flows. The same method may be applied to the growth of basaltic shields and other volcano types in different environments, including non-terrestrial volcanism.

Viscosity of microlite-bearing rhyolitic obsidians: an experimental study

To investigate the influence of microlites on lava flow rheology, the viscosity of natural microlite-bearing rhyolitic obsidians of calc-alkaline and peralkaline compositions containing 0.1–0.4 wt.% water was measured at volcanologically relevant temperatures (650–950 °C), stresses (103–105 Pa) and strain rates (10–5 to 10–7 s–1). The glass transition temperatures (T g ) were determined from scanning calorimetric measurements on the melts for a range of cooling/heating rates. Based on the equivalence of enthalpic (calorimetric) and shear (viscosity) relaxation, we calculated the viscosity of the melt in crystal-bearing samples from the T g data. The difference between the calculated viscosity of the melt phase and the measured viscosity for the crystal-bearing samples is interpreted to be the physical effect of microlites on the measured viscosity. The effect of 45 vol.% crystals. For both of these samples a connectivity factor is apparent, with, for the latter, a close packing framework of crystals which is interpreted to influence the apparent viscosity.

Quantifying the effect of rheology on lava-flow margins using fractal geometry

This study aims at quantifying the effect of rheology on plan-view shapes of lava flows using fractal geometry. Plan-view shapes of lava flows are important because they reflect the processes governing flow emplacement and may provide insight into lava-flow rheology and dynamics. In our earlier investigation (Bruno et al. 1992), we reported that flow margins of basalts are fractal, having a characteristic shape regardless of scale. We also found we could use fractal dimension (D, a parameter which quantifies flow-margin convolution) to distinguish between the two endmember types of basalts: a′ a (D: 1.05–1.09) and pahoehoe (D: 1.13–1.23). In this work, we confirm those earlier results for basalts based on a larger database and over a wider range of scale (0.125 m–2.4 km). Additionally, we analyze ten silicic flows (SiO2: 52–74%) over a similar scale range (10 m–4.5 km). We note that silicic flows tend to exhibit scale-dependent, or non-fractal, behavior. We attribute this breakdown of fractal behavior at increased silica contents to the suppression of small-scale features in the flow margin, due to the higher viscosities and yield strengths of silicic flows. These results suggest we can use the fractal properties of flow margins as a remote-sensing tool to distinguish flow types. Our evaluation of the nonlinear aspects of flow dynamics indicates a tendency toward fractal behavior for basaltic lavas whose flow is controlled by internal fluid dynamic processes. For silicic flows, or basaltic flows whose flow is controlled by steep slopes, our evaluation indicates non-fractal behavior, consistent with our observations.