Once lava from an erupted volcano bug out moving , it be given to keep moving that way of life , regardless of what we want . But Hawaiian researcher have count on out some manner to airt a lava stream aside from you or your property — even if the eruption goes on for several months .
In a new Volcano Watch pillar , the USGS ’s Hawaii Volcano Observatory looks at the history of attempt to airt lava flows out from cities , which have place from hurriedly constructed barriers to what essentially amounts to fosse - construction .
While these effort often end in failure , there have been some success stories , too . In one grammatical case in Italy , engineer were able-bodied to keep diverting lavaflows for over five months , as the flow ’s move ever closer to a small Ithiel Town over the course of an eruption that keep on for over a year :
On December 14 , 1991 , Etna begin erupting , send lava toward the Ithiel Town of Zafferana Etnea , located 9 km ( 6 mi ) downslope of the fighting vents . On January 1 , 1992 , workers begin constructing a 234 molarity - long ( 256 yd - long ) , 21 thou - high ( 69 ft - high ) roadblock about 2 kilometre ( 1.2 mi ) above the townspeople . But on January 9 , the lava stream front stall and natural process became focused upslope . By early March , another lobe of lava fade the original stall front , reached the barrier on March 14 , and overtop it by April 10 .
The barrier had successfully delay the lava for a month , but flows continued to threaten Zafferana , and the universe prepared for evacuation . Three more short barrier were built to slow the lava period ’s progression , but they , too , were overtopped .
Meanwhile , plans for a different kind of lava - control task were enacted farther upslope . Per this plan , explosive were used to open up up the feeder lava subway in an attempt to slow the flow ’s onward motion . After four abortive attempts , the lava was successfully redirected into an artificial communication channel in late May . Robbed of its supply , the flow advancing toward Zafferana stalled .
By June 1992 , the eruption pace had decreased by half and lava flows were only combat-ready upslope . Lava was no longer endanger Zafferana and efforts to retard or divert the lava were no longer need . The eruption finish in March 1993 , after 16 month of volcanic bodily process and about 5 months of work to control the menses .
you’re able to read the full floor , with some more case studies in lava diversionary tactics , mighty here .
Image : A more late Mount Etna eruption from 2013 /ESA
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