Running the model

  • Press any key to erupt more lava, and update the lava thickness in each cell one time.
  • Circles represent 100 x 100 m cells. All of the cells initially have the same elevation (the lava erupts on to a flat surface).
  • Lava residual is set to 2-m-thickness. If the lava flow thickness > 2 m in any cell, the excess lava is distributed to adjacent cells.
  • This simple distribution algorthm spreads the excess lava equally to four near-neighbor cells.
  • Total pulse is the volume of lava erupted from the vent. Total lava volume is the integral of thickness across the lava flow area (these numbers should be the same, since mass in conserved).
  • Erupt enough lava and the flow hits the edge of the model, at which point the distribute algorthim fails!
  • Reload the page to re-start the simulation.

Useful Links

Sandbox to test lava flow model on a flat surface

Lava flow models attempt to simulate the flow of lava away from a vent where lava issues from the ground. One common hazards question is: how much area will be covered by a lava flow of a given volume? The answer depends on the assumptions about how lava spreads out when it erupts from a volcanic vent.

This sketch depicts a lava flow from a vent on a perfectly flat surface. Assume each circle represents a 100 x 100 m area (the space between the circles makes it easier to see how the code works). Watch how the lava spreads by pressing any key to erupt a bit of new lava from the vent.

Pretty cool, eh? Code by C. Connor