Peruvian scientist participates in pioneer research to forecast the impact of volcanic eruptions

The eruption of a volcano It can be a disaster not only for surrounding areas, but for the entire region, with ashes and gases feathers that throw negatively not only air quality, but also cause huge disruptions in air traffic such as the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjalajökull in 2010 clearly demonstrated.

That is why research to understand the behaviors of volcanoes are so relevant, with an international team of scientists choosing the Sabancaya volcano for an advanced study that seeks to forecast the behavior of eruptive columns. The Arequipa volcano was ideal for the study, since it has been prolonged since the end of 2016.

The study, in which Ingemmet Rigoberto Aguilar Contreras also participated, found that there are mainly two types of eruptive columns with different behaviors:

• Fast and chaotic: These columns reach initial speeds greater than 10 m/s, form structures with swirls (vortices) that resemble the smoke rings that make a chimney, but on a large scale.
• Slow and cylindrical: On the other hand, the slower columns, with initial speeds smaller than 12 m/s, have a cylindrical shape and do not develop large swirls. An example of this would be the smoke that rises from a sail off, but in colossal dimensions.

The researchers also identified that the Sabancaya columns fall into an intermediate point between two types described in the scientific literature: feathers fed by flotability (such as thermal) and short and unstable jets.

The research was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth and used advanced technologies such as video cameras in visible and infrared wavelengths and advanced mathematical models to reveal the secrets of eruptions.

One of the most important was the calculation called “drag coefficient”, which measures how the eruptive columns suck air as they ascend. This data is essential to understand how ash clouds and their ability to ascend and remain in the atmosphere are formed.