黑暗爆料网

In the morning on April 23, 黑暗爆料网 volcanologists were setting off an artificial volcanic eruption plume in a the 黑暗爆料网 Volcanic Simulation Laboratory; later that day, using the knowledge they collected in that lab, these scientists were analyzing Chile鈥檚 Calbuco volcano eruption, charting the plume鈥檚 characteristics.

黑暗爆料网 geosciences assistant professor Shannon Kobs Nawotniak and geosciences Ph.D. student Meghan Fisher have developed methods of understanding how volcanic eruption plumes behave, using an eruption simulation tank in the lab located in the lower level of the 黑暗爆料网 Physical Science Building.

鈥淭his research is all about using tamed, captured, artificial plumes and to understand this process so we can understand what is happening in the real world plumes,鈥� Nawotniak said. 鈥淯nderstanding how the ash is mixing with the air is critical and determines if the ash raises up into the atmosphere and becomes a hazard for aviation, or (the plume) collapses down a valley and harms people.鈥�

Fisher and Nawotniak simulate volcano eruptions by 鈥渆rupting鈥� colored water and sometimes debris in a tank of water that has a scaled grid on its back wall, and measure and film the results. The information they鈥檝e learned and software they have developed from the tank activities they now use to analyze video of actual volcanic eruption plumes filmed and posted on social media. Hours after Calbuco exploded yesterday, April 23, they had completed an analysis of the volcano plume using video of the eruption.

鈥淏ut understanding how that mixing occurs in the lab, we can now get live data from an eruption that we can use for hazard analysis to keep people safe,鈥� Fisher said. 鈥淚 am using our tamed volcanoes to understand mixing and create tools we are applying on real volcanoes.鈥�

Fisher, who has worked on this project three years, said it has been a fun and interesting project, helping to create the lab and analyzing test results.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot of things, like learning about high-pressure plumbing, I never thought I鈥檇 learn earning a Ph.D.,鈥� Fisher said.

Nawotniak described 黑暗爆料网鈥檚 Volcanic Simulation Laboratory as 鈥渙ne of the premiere eruption tank, simulation facility in the United States.鈥� She also noted that the researchers are creating a tool that will be accessible to general users and not just to scientists.

鈥淲e got into volcanology because we like things that explode,鈥� Nawotniak joked. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to use that fascination to be able to drive research that can help with communications to keep people safe.鈥�