Lava and energy storage

When does a lava flow need a power supply?

It only applies when a lava flow, evolving under a constant supply, attains steady-state conditions (i.e., when both the mass and the heat budgets balance). In this case, the power supply is the volcano which is supposed to supply lava at a constant rate. The similarity between the three expressions of Eqs.

What if lava moves over flat ground?

In this case, the heat energy released by the ALFS is at least one order of magnitude greater than the potential energy available and can be up to two orders of magnitude greater, or more, if lava moves over flat ground, as in the Holuhraun case.

Is there a linear relationship between discharge rate and lava plan area?

Harris and coworkers illustrated that the linear relationship between discharge rate and lava plan area is essentially empirical and needs to be scaled on a case-to-case basis to account for local conditions (e.g., rheological and topographic influences on flow spreading, Harris and Baloga 2009, Harris et al. 2010, Harris 2013 ).

How does a lava circuit work?

An electric current propagates almost instantaneously through an existing circuit, following the Kirchhoff law (a least dissipation principle). Flowing lavas, in contrast, build up a slow-motion “lava circuit” over days, weeks, or months by following a gravity-driven path down the steepest slopes.

How does a lava flow behave?

The emerging picture is that a lava flow behaves both (i) as a gravity-driven flow advancing towards the steepest slope and (ii) as a “lava current,” which, through analogy with an electric current, is controlled by the least dissipation principle.

What happens when lava is constrained into a channel?

When flowing lava becomes constrained into a channel by the formation of levees, instead, the situation is reversed, with an increase in slope promoting a narrower channel in which a thicker and faster flow moves downhill (Kerr et al. 2006 ).