Laboratory simulations of sustained volcanic eruptions

Researchers looking at sustained volcanic eruptions have been able to simulate volcanic conduit flows by rapidly decompressing large volumes of carbon dioxide-saturated water. This gives sustained explosions in a liquid where rapid exsolution of gas is taking place. It was established that the maximum average rate of propagation of the fragmentation region can be estimated if the conduit length is known. The start-up period identifies the time when the fragmentation region is propagating down the conduit.