Depth-Average Modeling Of Gravity-Driven Lava Flow With Surface Crust Development

Abstract:

Forecasts for the emplacement of lava and associated mitigation strategies rely upon the accurate portrayal of flow interactions with topographic features. Efficient and easily adaptable numerical treatments are needed that can predict flow paths and dominant behaviors to illuminate the underlying mechanisms without the obscuring influence of secondary effects. We implement depth-averaged finite element models in COMSOL that treat a given lava flow as a non-isothermal gravity current overlain by a growing surface crust. For model validation we use observations from analog experiments that use both isothermal and rapidly cooling fluids to simulate the interactions of lava flows with topographic obstacles. Under a broad range of relevant conditions, although the flow thickness is very small compared with its extent, the high Péclet number ensures that most of the flow depth remains nearly isothermal, with crust forming in a thermal boundary layer near the surface. This surface crust can exert a retarding force that limits flow extent and leads to thickening. The good agreement between model predictions and laboratory experiments provides confidence in the extensibility of our simulation strategy to ongoing efforts at examining additional flow processes, including flow stagnation and channelization.