Is it true that man can stop a thick lava flow (basically dam it
up?).
Nancy Draper
Dear Nancy,
Yes and No. The Italians have been successful in several attempts to
control lava flows from Mt. Etna. For example, in 1992 they built
earthen barriers that contained the lava for one month. When that
barrier was overtopped three new barriers were built to slow the advance
of the flow. Efforts were then focused at diverting the flow by using a
skylight near the vent. By removing the walls of the lava tube with
explosives and clogging the tube with concrete blocks they diverted the
lava out of the tube and the flow front stagnated. Two weeks later the
town of Zafferana (population 7,000) was threatened again. An artificial
channel was dug that diverted lava away from the active tube. The wall
of the tube was excavated until it was only 10 feet (3 m) thick. Then
the thin wall was removed with explosives. Most of the lava followed the
artificial channel. Boulders were used to clog the tube. The lava was
successfully diverted and did not threaten populated areas again. The
eruption continued for 5 more months.
Barriers were also constructed in 1960 on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.
Lava breached these barriers but they did slow down the advance of the
flows. Many homes were destroyed but by slowing down the flows less
homes were lost.
Thanks for an interesting question.
Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota
Source of Information:
Barberi, F., Carapezza, M.L., Valenza, M., and Villari, L., 1993, The
control of lava flow during the 1991-1992 eruption of Mt. Etna: Journal
of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 56, p. 1-34.
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