Researchers Fake Mini Volcanic Eruptions 41
ananyo writes "Volcanologists detonated explosive charges buried in a meadow in Ashford, New York, blowing 12 small craters in the ground and throwing debris 80 meters in the air. The aim was to recreate, in true-to-life detail, what happens when a volcanic eruption punches through Earth's crust. The work could guide the way that active volcanoes are monitored, and could help safety officials to decide where to restrict public access at volcanoes such as Italy's Stromboli, where dozens of tourists arrive every night to watch spectacular fire fountain displays."
I just very very sorry... (Score:1)
Oh please! Mythbusters did this five years ago...
Researchers Fake Mini Volcanic Eruptions? (Score:5, Funny)
Learn to please these researchers. Don't be so selfish, thinking only of your own gratification! Listen to what your researcher is saying and respond to the signals being sent.
You'll find that it's better for both of you - and the researcher won't have to fake these eruptions anymore. A veritable Mt. St. Helens awaits!
Re: (Score:2)
That's a very erotic take on my comment, Mr. Cornelius. I am intrigued, please sign me up for your newsletter, and let me know where the "key parties" you attend are being held.
Re: (Score:2)
You mean those junk DNA results were faked?
... moments later (Score:2)
Mini Volcano (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
First thing in my mind too was that this was a "grown-up" version, but I think you and I mean different things by that.
So, they blew up a meadow? (Score:4, Funny)
That's some groundbreaking research right there.
Re: (Score:3)
True, but I'd take a C4 volcano over your grade-school peroxide and soda volcano any day.
When in doubt, C4! (heh, heh, heh...)
Obligatory (Score:1)
So does my wife!
Re: (Score:2)
Greetings and Salutations;
Big thumbs up to this! WHile scale explosions CAN provide useful data, I am not sure that (other than the coolness factor) there is any reason for this to show up on Slashdot.
Pleasant dreams
Dave Mundt
Mmmm... Stromboli (Score:2)
The aim? (Score:1)
Hugh, it seems to me the aim an excuse to play with explosives.
Especially since it DOESN'T model eruptions. (Score:5, Informative)
"The aim was to recreate, in true-to-life detail, what happens when a volcanic eruption punches through Earth's crust."
Hugh, it seems to me the aim an excuse to play with explosives.
Especially since it DOESN'T model eruptions - especially the explosive kind.
One of the major martyrs to science is the geologist who died in the most recent explosive eruption of Mount Saint Hellens. It was known that some mountains explode, and that this was the usual mode for this volcano. But it was a big mystery HOW they exploded.
He was too close to escape when the action started. But he had a (film) camera with him. So he took a series of photos as the mountain went off, then wrapped his camera in his backpack and jacket before the devastation got to him. His camera was recovered, the film developed, and running the series of stills as a movie made the mechanism utterly clear. It was an "Of COURSE!" moment.
In this case there is a LOT of gas pressure under the mountain. This pressure, not just the buoyancy of the lava, is much of what is pushing the mountain up. Meanwhile, the weight of the mountain is what is holding the gas down, at enormous pressure.
Eventually the mountain is pushed up enough that a rock avalanche starts on one side. This releases some of the pressure, which lets the gas push the mountain up further, making it shrug much more of the side off in an enormous rock slide. One side of the mountain slides away. This leaves the gas pressure held down only by the remaining rock, which is insufficient for the task. Before the rock slide is more than about a quarter of the way down the gas is blasting the remaining rock into fine dust and launching it into the stratosphere -(as well as sideways, so goodbye neighborhood). Essentially the whole mountain goes away, leaving a crater where rebuilding the mountain for the next cycle begins.
Let's see you model THAT with explosives! (Hint: If you're throwing rocks you didn't use enough explosives.)
Lesser eruptions have a number of models, depending on things like the composition of the lava (including how much gas is bubbling out of it, like soda fizz once the lava makes it to near atmospheric pressures). Explosives don't do those justice, either.
Re: (Score:2)
You're actually confusing three people caught in the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens:
David Johnston: The volcanologist stationed at the Coldwater II observation post (now Johnston Ridge). He was able to make one quick radio call to the USGS before he was killed by the lateral blast and buried by the landslide. His body and equipment were never found.
Reid Blackburn: A photojournalist covering the buildup to the eruption. He was killed when the pyroclastic flow engulfed the area in which he was camped.
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THANK you for that correction.
I got the story from the voiceover on a video made from what was apparently Rosenquist's film. Don't know if I misheard/misremenbered it or if it included the misattribution of the film to Johnston (or Blackburn).
Acceptable Risk (Score:2)
>> could help safety officials to decide where to restrict public access at volcanoes such as Italy's Stromboli, where dozens of tourists arrive every night to watch spectacular fire fountain displays
Let's not go there, please. If we lose a couple of dozen tourists, that's an acceptable risk. Hell, there's many things all of us do (skydive, kayak, rock-climb, drive on interstates, eat cheeseburgers, visit hospitals) that expose us to risk...but without those risky experiences, life wouldn't be nearl
So, let me get this straight. (Score:1, Interesting)
They recreated a volcano eruption that is true to life, but they had no lava, no ash blown in the air, no steam and no intense heat? They basically blew a hole in the ground and called it a volcano? Youd think after all the years mankind has been blowing holes in the ground they would have the info they needed by now.
They tried to recreate something that happens every night in order to see it so they can tell officials how far to restricts civilians?
Im having a real hard time finding any real use for this e
And all these years I thouht it ... (Score:2)
was vulcanology.
WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong (Score:2)
Someone please tag this. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong.
Fuckers! (Score:2)
Left behind were craters as wide as 2 metres and as deep as 45 centimetres.
Oh. Never mind. Geez, I didn't even hear the blasts...
I have done this at home (Score:2)
with vinegar and baking soda!
Pfft, I can achieve more with less. (Score:2)
Pfft, I can achieve more with less.
Just give me Taco Bell.
Two Money Saving Words: (Score:1)
Taco Night.
Why not use a computer model? (Score:2)
Why not use a computer model? There has been very large money already spent on nuclear explosion simulators. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and other places have the computing expertise. Why would anyone use the real thing today? It is so unpredictable, you cannot calculate on it very well ad hoc. In a simulator you can at least determine how much unpredictable you want.