Predicting the behavior of volcanoes is a challenge, as most analyses merely conclude with probabilities that an event will occur. Monitoring of seismic activity, gas emissions or infrasound signals can provide some clues as to the likelihood of hazardous eruptions. However, volcanologists can never be sure how severe a predicted eruption will be.

To better understand the forces at work in volcanoes, an international research team conducted a series of Lab-made lava was poured into insulated steel boxes of different sizes. Source: Douglas Levere/University at Buffaloexplosive experiments focusing on what happens when lava meets water. Lava was made in the laboratory by using a high-powered induction furnace to melt basalt, which is then poured into insulated steel boxes of 8 to 18 inches in height and injected with two or three jets of water. Water injection speeds of 6 to 30 ft/second were applied in 12 experiments.

The presence of water can render volcanic activity more violent, but in some cases the lava-water reaction is mild. Preliminary test results demonstrated spontaneous explosions when there is at least about a foot of molten rock above the mixing point. Bigger reactions were noted when water rushed in faster and taller lava containers were used.

The ongoing project could improve the ability to assess the risk posed by volcanoes near ice, lakes, oceans and underground water sources. Researchers from the University at Buffalo, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Universität Würzburg (Germany) participated in this study, which is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR): Solid Earth.