Gasified magma flow in a volcanic conduit (Q811281)

The authors investigate in the steady quasi 1-D formulation the subsonic problem of gasified magma escaping from the focus of eruption along a conduit of variable cross section with a given pressure difference. Since during the magma motion in the conduit the pressure varies by several orders, the properties of the medium vary from these of a homogeneous fluid to those of a gas suspension with separation of the dissolved volatiles from the melt. In order to describe all these effects, the authors subdivide the volcanic vent into four zones, in each of which the flow is described by a specific model: 1) a homogeneous fluid; 2) a fluid, in which the bubble growth takes place; 3) a fluid containing in addition to isolated bubbles small extended channels along which leading motion of the gas takes place; 4) a gas suspension, formed as a result of the gas velocity increasing to the critical value at which the destruction of the foam takes place. The numerical results compared with certain observational data show, that the proposed model describes the qualitative effects associated with explosive eruptions.