Professor Heidy Mader will deliver the ESE Departmental Seminar on 27 February.

Explosive volcanic eruptions are generated when the system is forced out of equilibrium. However most numerical models of conduit flow processes assume equilibrium conditions (because that’s what we know about). Does this matter?

After first reviewing the equilibrium processes that are well understood, we will then consider the extent of disequilibrium and possible consequences for the flow dynamics. This will include consideration of recent research on:

1. numerical conduit flow models that allow for disequilibrium crystallisation;
2. transition from effusive to explosive behaviour caused by the syn-eruptive growth of nanolites; and
3. the nascent development of methods to explore disequilibria, specifically 4D tomography and high pressure and high temperature rheology.