Eruptions

Wednesday Whatzits: Yellowstone plume, man-made lava and monitoring Hawai`i

Posted by Erik Klemetti on December 9, 2009
(103)
More »

Some news for today:


Yellowstone National Park, USA.

  • Another fine example of media headline versus actual research, an article in the Jackson Hole Daily about a new study by Dr. Robert Smith and others on the Yellowstone plume was titled “Park’s giant magma plume eating up mountains”. Yikes! Well, the actual study published recently in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research is more about the geophysical parameters of the Yellowstone plume – a plume that might reach as far as 500 km below the caldera itself. As for the mountain eating part, I think they were trying to get at the idea that as the North American plate move over the plume, the topography over the plume will change (thanks to the bulging of the plate), thus “erasing” mountains – however, this is a minor part of the study. The most interesting thing (at least to me) is speculation of what might happen when the plume hits the colder, thicker crust of the North American Craton.
  • In what can only be described as the closest thing to a man-made lava flow, a glass factory in Ireland had one of its furnaces crack, producing a giant molten glass flow. The glass (at ~1600C) flowed out of the furnace and filled an area 2-3 feet deep in glass. Luckily, no one was killed, but I’m sure there are folks who study glass rheology dying to get a look at the results of this spill. Might be the only time firefighters in Ireland will have to deal with lava flow-like events!
  • Volcano monitoring in Hawai`i looks to get a big upgrade with an announcement of ~$420,000 for updating the system and research. Sounds like a lot of the money will go to study the vog problem on the Big Island of Hawai`i. Overall, the USGS received $7 million from the Department of the Interior as part of the ARRA.
Keywords: ,
(103)
More »

Comments

  1. #1 Fitz
    December 9, 2009

    Another example of man-made lava sadly is Chernobylite, the extremely radioactive glass that flowed out of Reactor #4 into the basement of the containment building.

    Its said to be very pretty, with light patterns rather like depression glass. But now they’r worried that it will degrade quickly, like normal lava, into a fine powder that will be more difficult to contain.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1997/chernobyl/33005.stm

  2. #2 Eileen
    December 9, 2009

    As part of my job I visited a glass factory in Hungary earlier this year and had a chance to look into one of the furnaces during the tour (thru a welding shield of course). I felt like it was the closest experience I’d ever have to looking into a volcano. The intense heat and light were amazing and I can well imagine a cracked furnace being a most frightening experience. Good to hear all the jobs are safe tho and the factory will be back on stream in a couple of weeks.

  3. #3 mike don
    December 9, 2009

    Factory glass isn’t usually a precise match to natural volcanic glass; it has a very high level of sodium silicate not found naturally, which reduces the viscosity. And the temperature quoted (1600 decrees C) is about 400 degrees higher than the hottest lavas at surface conditions. I keep thinking of komaiites (sp?) though, which ARE supposed to have been erupted at that sort of temperature

  4. #4 doug
    December 9, 2009

    early in my working life I worked in a glass factory in Seattle. We had a tank split open, spilling colored glass onto the cement floor where it then flowed out into the rainy parking lot. It was exciting but not at all frightening (except maybe to those not to familiar with factory language). It cools and hardens pretty quickly (more so than basalt lava I believe) so you don’t have to worry about it going very far. There isn’t much you can do except watch it and move flammable materials (boxes, pallets, garbage cans, etc) away from its path. Standard glass factory design anticipates a failure, so all critical systems run overhead where they are safe and you make sure there’s a run-out area near the tank. The most exciting part is when the surface of the concrete pops from the heat, sending small glass fragments and fibers in all directions. Spraying water on it is not advised, since it just create a lot of steam and puddles.The most difficult part is getting rid of the hardened flow, since it has cooled without going through the annealing step, it has lots of internal stresses that make the bits and pieces very fragile with a tendency to fly apart at a touch. Since the glass is now contaminated with concrete and other debris picked up on its path along the floor, we couldn’t recycle it back once the tank was repaired, which was a shame.

  5. #5 N7FL
    December 9, 2009

    I used to work at a mountaineering equipment factory next to a glass factory [owned by the same man] and for giggles ‘n’ grins we’d go over and look at the glass ovens. They were raised off the floor and periodically, due to the extremely high temperatures they employ, one would burn out and dump its molten contents on the floor. Once they cooled, the glass would be chipped up and reused, or we’d keep the pretty chunks.

  6. #6 doug
    December 9, 2009

    N7FL,

    I worked at L.P’s place too for a while, in the glass furnace area, not in the Mountaineering shop, in 1977 while I was still in ceramic engineering at the UW. When were you there? The glass spill I described was at a different place though.

    cheers,

  7. #7 Anne
    December 9, 2009

    As far as rheological disasters go, there’s always the Boston Molasses Disaster.

  8. #8 Fitz
    December 9, 2009

    Anne – that’s some mighty obscure knowledge you’re displaying there. You should get a prize.

  9. #9 James Trusty
    December 10, 2009

    Keep monitoring yellowstone’s magma plume. Hopefully, you will have nothing dire to report anytime soon…Excuse me for wandering off subject. But I suffer the funny feeling that Anak Kraktoa is concocting a monstrous surprise for volcanologists and humanity. In other words, I believe it shall erupt cataclysmically much sooner than later–and its temper tantrum will be of a magnitude more or less on par with Toba’s last eruption.

  10. #10 MadScientist
    December 11, 2009

    Cool … $420K won’t go very far though unless they’ve already developed the instrumentation and just need to duplicate things.

  11. #11 The Mad LOLScientist, FCD
    December 12, 2009

    Rheological disasters? Don’t forget the Great Beer Flood of 1814 (original London Times article here), in which several people drowned and one poor soul died of alcohol poisoning (guess his idea of cleaning up the mess was to drink as much of it as possible)….

  12. #12 Manuel Releford
    December 17, 2010

    i like your blog, however it is obvious to me that you are getting spammed by blog

  13. #13 Pro Affiliate
    December 30, 2010

    Moral indignation is jealousy which has a mobile.

  14. #14 alcohol addiction
    January 11, 2011

    I believe I am investing extra of my time on the web then anything else, oh well just thought I’d pop in and say hi.

  15. #15 pharmacy
    January 25, 2011

    Fantastic go through I adore to listen to what genuine folks desire to talk about on their blogs not just compaines attempting to sell things.

  16. #16 Irving Billiott
    February 8, 2011

    A cool read, whilst I’d personally certainly not acknowledge entirely with many on the points made it made me read through it’s whole

  17. #17 {r4ds|r4 ds|r4 ds card|r4 ds nintendo|r4 nintendo ds|r4 ds nintendo card|r4 card}
    February 9, 2011

    thanks for the great article, advised to be able to my buddies as well as colleagues!

  18. #18 Venus Werling
    February 16, 2011

    Esta informacion es la que esta buscando un compañero de trabajo mio, se lo hare llegar para que lo lea. Gracias!

  19. #19 Chaya Liddiard
    February 24, 2011

    mas bonita no podria ser

  20. #20 Kiera Crescenti
    February 26, 2011

    Hi! I just wanted to take the time to make a comment today and say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog. Thanks for all your work.

  21. #21 Enthon
    February 26, 2011

    How do you determine value of timeshare?

  22. #22 Hubert Otiz
    March 1, 2011

    My brother suggested I might like this web site. He used to be entirely right. This publish actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how so much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  23. #23 Von Kaushal
    March 3, 2011

    Good website! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!

  24. #24 fraud investigator
    March 11, 2011

    Insurance providers through round the nation make use of the detectives in order to carry out hidden movie security in order to catch each day within the existence movie of the topic without having their own understanding. Analysis is really a foundation associated with felony protection function and also the part from the private eye is actually main in order to each and every essential action along the way through situation planning in order to post-conviction problems.

  25. #25 BMW e92 hids
    April 18, 2011

    hi admin, extraordinary post.. pls keep them coming!!!!

  26. #26 Andrew Tagle
    May 2, 2011

    Well I have was around for some time and i also found whatever needed, however the points this post has touched really are amazing, everyone’s wanting to either copy or continue with the same task over and over, and quite a few of the time get really hurtled written by this. I believe this being the main post to totally post something as they are will truly assist me or anything else. I do believe trying this is actually worth. Furthermore it will be wastage of the time coz no matter the reason it will never harm our campaigns for great serps.

  27. #27 Official Home Page
    May 3, 2011

    It is a very practicable idea and I am sure that if you work hard, youngsters from India would surely gain a lot.

  28. #28 Ezequiel Hritz
    May 4, 2011

    You are making some excellent points. How do you think of ideas? Sometimes I feel like I am not having enough good material to examine and share with my readers.. I honestly never thought of this before you shared. Keep posting man. I actually enjoy reading your opinions because in turn they give me – (and I’m sure your other readers) a lot to contemplate.

  29. #29 Dirk Kayler
    May 9, 2011

    You make some excellent points. How does one think of ideas? Sometimes I feel like I am not having enough good material to examine and share with my readers.. I honestly never thought of this before you shared. Keep posting man. I truly enjoy reading your thoughts because in turn they offer me – (and I’m sure your other readers) a great deal to reflect on.

  30. #30 the new style
    May 13, 2011

    hi, superb blogpost! Please continue this great work…

  31. #31 work from home canada
    May 22, 2011

    These days, finances seem gloomy. All of us could hide from the what we face or make the future ours. I pray that we allmake it smiling and wiser.

  32. #32 Carl Holck
    May 24, 2011

    It takes more thought to come up with a good blog comment then a bad one. For instance, it takes much less brain effort to say “you suck” than to say “I profoundly disagree with the simplistic drivel that has been touted on this networked opinion delivery system.” As evidenced by the number of moronic comments that are left on various blogs, it appears that the majority of blog readers have the cranial capacity of cattle who spend a lot of time defecating in the same pool they drink from.

  33. #33 revia indications
    June 12, 2011

    Die persönlichen Mitteilungen bei allen begeben sich heute?

  34. #34 Cyril Abington
    June 16, 2011

    Finding this site made all the work I did to find it look like nothing. The reason being that this is such an informative post. I wanted to thank you for this special analysis of the subject. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I submitted your site to some of the biggest social networks so others can find your blog.

  35. #35 cheap seo
    June 16, 2011

    The last I checked on this topic was very some time back. I’m much more into SEO Packages. Nonetheless, interesting post and I would check back again soon and get myself much more updated.

  36. #36 Rumah murah
    June 17, 2011

    Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you However I am experiencing issue with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting identical rss problem? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

  37. #37 Sherice
    June 27, 2011

    Hi there, I recently came across your blog in a new directory of personal blogs. I dont know how your website came up, must have been a typo, Your blog looks really good. Also i wanted to take your rss feed but i couldn’t. Don’t know why!!? With regards, Sherice.

  38. #38 Shu Pomarico
    July 4, 2011

    Great artical, had no problems printing this page either.

  39. #39 He who must not be named
    July 5, 2011

    Thanks! I think you’ll maybe not care about if I check around your blog site a little bit more. “Biography lends to death a new terror.” by Oscar Wilde..

  40. #40 He who must not be named
    July 5, 2011

    Keep writing! I’m guessing you’ll won’t care about if I look around your website a tad more. “Humor is also a way of saying something serious.” by T. S. Eliot..

  41. #41 Cordie Cambell
    July 6, 2011

    Thanks lovely, told my bf to look at this as it’s something he’d enjoy

  42. #42 He who must not be named
    July 6, 2011

    Wow! that entry ended up being just interesting thanks much. “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” by Samuel Beckett..

  43. #43 Organic Agriculture
    July 6, 2011

    Stopping by is always an enjoyable and educational experience. Thank you.

  44. #44 Alonzo Haus
    July 6, 2011

    BAHAHAHAHAHA i was laughing more at Kangins laugh then Eunhyuks fall.

  45. #45 Delmer Gardea
    July 6, 2011

    okay, i truly dont care what are the songs actually called.

  46. #46 Ayesha Buono
    July 9, 2011

    John Chow is definitely my idol, i think that guy is extra-ordinary. he is really talented`

  47. #47 Sheila Plautz
    July 9, 2011

    Politics is of course very annoying, politicians do annoy me because of their bad performance;;

  48. #48 adderall treatment
    July 11, 2011

    Wow, thanks for this article. You seem to be quite the expert in this category. I’ll read this more often.

  49. #49 Ward Rosenbarger
    July 13, 2011

    I am going to be honest here: this article is fantastic! I learned plenty of new, fascinating information. If you could show me your newsletter link, I would be very happy! Keep writing like this, and you’ll be famous in no time.

  50. #50 Damien Pies
    July 13, 2011

    i would love to enter my baby on a baby contest because she is very nice and talented..

  51. #51 Rufus Traner
    July 13, 2011

    i can say that George Michael is nice guy, he is really a very talented guy-

  52. #52 twitter
    July 14, 2011

    haha your article makes remember me of funny thing my lad did, she walked on to soaked hanckerchief, shout “craaaaaaa*” and slipped… + food tray flew to shirt of nearby stander, this happened at our wedding hehe…

    Well story short, you have written quite nice post, makes me crack a smile.

  53. #53 rente
    July 17, 2011

    Sie sollten teilnehmen in einen Wettbewerb für die meisten effektiven Blogs im Internet. ich werde empfehlen dieser Website

  54. #54 Adriane
    July 18, 2011

    This leaves me wondering – how many people disagree, and even have some good perspective or data on which to base their thoughts, but for not wanting to offend the blogger or the audience, they don’t?

  55. #55 topslotsguide1
    July 18, 2011

    Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Thanks!

  56. #56 Marvin Matsuki
    July 19, 2011

    My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.

  57. #57 temperature controllers
    July 19, 2011

    I was just itching to understand do you trade showcased posts”

  58. #58 meladerm cream
    July 25, 2011

    Thanks for all the info, exactly what i needed!

  59. #59 butik otel ekle
    August 1, 2011

    Greetings I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you by mistake, while I was looking on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a tremendous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome work.

  60. #60 Law of Attraction Blog
    August 1, 2011

    I couldn’t refuse posting comments. “When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat.” by Mark Twain..

  61. #61 Erlene Buffone
    August 3, 2011

    I like this post. I wasnt really looking for your website to tell you the truth but i somehow found it and i gotta say I have no regrets about it. Please keep producing wonderful content such as this blog entry. Much appreciated.

  62. #62 x loop sunglasses
    August 5, 2011

    I know my name is my website but hey im trying to promote it, lol but atleast my comment is real and not some spam crap, anyway i like your site and this was a great read, i am manually surfing hundreds of blogs a day so give me a break and let it stick. :) thanks.

  63. #63 mark
    August 6, 2011

    Well done. You happen to be big stupid mankind.

  64. #64 Bradley Heningburg
    August 7, 2011

    While I appreciate your comments about your costs, I don’t like the fact that it’s not necessarily clear from your Web site how a fee structure works. works best for the consumer, in my opinion the lack of transparency isn’t a positive factor. I take on that things become clearer to your potential customer, once his or her credit report is viewed, but the deficiency of upfront information does ensure it is impossible for consumers to understand if they are being treated the same as others. In my view, that is not a fatal flaw, necessarily, however it is a negative factor.

  65. #65 liz edison
    August 9, 2011

    You could as well accept simple fact that you’re brainless.

  66. #66 mypadmedia youtube
    August 13, 2011

    Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.

  67. #67 blackhat seo tactics
    August 14, 2011

    I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.

  68. #68 commercial motor insurance
    August 15, 2011

    I ran into this page mistakenly, surprisingly, this is a wonderful website. The site owner has done a great job writing/collecting articles to post, the info here is really and helpful when i do research. Now i am going to bookmark this internet site so that I can revisit in the future.

  69. #69 quick online loan
    August 16, 2011

    Yups, its so realistic.You really hit the nail on the head.

  70. #70 6pm coupon code
    August 16, 2011

    I got what you mean , thankyou for posting .Woh I am lucky to find this website through google.

  71. #71 Robby Eoff
    August 16, 2011

    Thanks for this information! I was brought here via http://corncob.org and I’m glad they have taken me here :) , is it ok if I post this article on twitter?

  72. #72 stock quotes
    August 17, 2011

    I like the first point you made there, but I am not sure I could reasonably apply that in a productive way.

  73. #73 buying kettlebell training program
    August 17, 2011

    El profesor, no debe gritar, debe hablar al alumno, pero con autoridad.

  74. #74 kettle worx for men
    August 20, 2011

    This country, the US of A is such a totally insane blob of land on the global map. We call this a free country and look how the freedom of minorities is being trampled time and again. This is the ONLY COUNTRY in THE WEST where religions been dealt such a prominent role IN PUBLIC LIFE. Its as if were still smack in the middle of the damned 19th century if not much earlier. A real disgrace. Sod off with your crazy anachronistic ideas about marriage and the so-called natural order of things. Homosexuality is to be found everywhere in nature, btw. Numerous books and articles have written about this proven fact. Down with religion, especially Christianity and Islam, Theyve brought more than enough suffering into this world (particularly towards women, gays and children). Out with yall!!!

  75. #75 http://sketchcast.com/channel/henrysargent82
    August 21, 2011

    Why does Alex Jones just post mainstream news articles on his website? Isn’t he breaking copyright laws?

  76. #76 http://www.tabletcases.us
    August 23, 2011

    My tablet PC just fell and got damaged. I wish I had a tablet case.

  77. #77 Treena Costantino
    August 24, 2011

    Super Beitrag. Ich bin ganz gespannt auf weitere Artikel dieser Art.

  78. #78 Walter Kelly
    August 24, 2011

    The way in which NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke about golf club owners’ overwhelming authorization of an tentative decade-long agreement to get rid of the lockout, he might as well are already yelling, Are you prepared for a few sports? Less than quickly, supporters. The particular deal’s not done yet.

  79. #79 Loan
    August 30, 2011

    You shouldn’t stop blogging and site-building! It happens to be great to read any sane commentary finally.

  80. #80 prywatna praktyka online
    August 31, 2011

    Time and time again I like to think about these difficulties. As a matter of fact it was not even a month ago that I last thought about this very situation. Frankly, what is your thought though?

  81. #81 Alonzo Dmitriev
    September 5, 2011

    Unerwartetes Geld für Mieter! Sie haben eben eine Mietkaution berappt? Sie ergattern sie unverzüglich zurück, ebenso wie Sie zu diesem Zweck dem Vermieter die Bürgschaftsurkunde von EuroKaution geben.

  82. #82 ottawa tutor
    September 7, 2011

    The race was by far the most memorable race I have run to date, and very fun in a wierd way. It is nice to know there were plenty of other locals willing to help us out-of-towners find our way around the course. Angus and I several times stopped at intersections while he thought about which way we should go next. At one point he said well just head straight back, I know it will be plenty long enough. Of course, at that point we were 5+ miles from the start.

  83. #83 Hana Honkanen
    September 8, 2011

    Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.

  84. #84 air suspension system for navigator
    September 10, 2011

    Ich bin mit Internet Suchmaschine auf deiner Page gestrandet und mag eben schnell darauf hinweisen, dass ich diesen Blog wirklich gut finde! Glückwunsch! Wahrscheinlich magst Du auch mal meine Page über Anabolika frequentieren? Anabolika sind Tabletten, die den Aufbau von Muskelmasse stützen!

  85. #85 Gerard Bye
    September 16, 2011

    I believe it was very helpful, don’t understand some people, just ignore them and keep doing great work.

  86. #86 liberty reserve
    September 19, 2011

    Thanks for sharing Wednesday Whatzits: Yellowstone plume, man-made lava and monitoring Hawai`i : Eruptions with us keep update bro love your article about Wednesday Whatzits: Yellowstone plume, man-made lava and monitoring Hawai`i : Eruptions .

  87. #87 Fantastic Four Online Spielen
    September 21, 2011

    amazing erandeve here racul with grassem eriousaly and squitemic ashandsol. orring your dossion the suser that dilly never bleredick or adving.

  88. #88 Entrevistas Laborales
    September 21, 2011

    Jeder, denen viel gegeben ist, von dem wird viel verlangt werden.

  89. #89 iphone 5
    October 4, 2011

    An fascinating speech is worth mention. I expect that you should indite more on this content, it might not be a bias study but mostly people are not sufficiency to utter on much topics. To the next. Cheers like your Wednesday Whatzits: Yellowstone plume, man-made lava and monitoring Hawai`i : Eruptions.

  90. #90 Article submissions
    October 18, 2011

    I don’t know if I concur with your post here. See you do make a good point, I don’t believe you have really given plenty of thought to the other side of this argument. Perhaps I could do a guest post or a follow-up, just tell me.

  91. #91 Shop Making Sense
    October 28, 2011

    OK, I’m officially confused. In a good way, though. I guess I just read it again and hope this all makes sense to me within the next half-hour.

  92. #92 tiffany jewelry
    October 30, 2011

    Die Seite konnte etwas besser zu Navigieren sein, aber der gesamt Eindruck ist schon Ok, wollte ich mal so als Info hier lassen.

  93. #93 Wholesaling Real Estate
    November 1, 2011

    You might have supplied myself a different look for this. I’m going to store it in the mind. Looking forward to the following publish.

  94. #94 Nue Science Reviews
    November 8, 2011

    Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!…

  95. #95 freecreditreport.gov
    November 8, 2011

    Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?

  96. #96 Muriel Morquecho
    November 8, 2011

    If you do not want to do something one excuse is as fresh as another.

  97. #97 Evan Domingus
    November 10, 2011

    This is my first time posting a comment but I just wanted you to know I enjoyed the read. Thanks

  98. #98 ugg boots on sale
    November 15, 2011

    What i do not realize is in reality how you are now not actually a lot more smartly-liked than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You know therefore significantly with regards to this subject, produced me in my opinion consider it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested until it’s something to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. At all times deal with it up!

  99. #99 sdr4rd425 judy aasd2e
    November 15, 2011

    I was studying some of your blog posts on this site and I think this site is very informative! Keep putting up.

  100. #100 Passages Malibu Cost
    November 16, 2011

    For over 1700 hundred years, the Jews have been bewailing their sad fate in that they have been exiled from their homeland, as they call Palestine. But, gentlemen, did the world give it to them in fee simple, they would at once find some reason for not returning.

  101. #101 solar power advantages
    November 17, 2011

    hey there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this website, since I experienced to reload the web site many times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..

  102. #102 link building services
    November 21, 2011

    If you are looking for a professional escort service be sure to check out our site.

  103. #103 Tyson F. Gautreaux
    May 30, 2012

    Thanks you really substantially for this superb and genuinely insightful subject material. Everybody could get terrific data and details from this short article.great perform retain it up. I am going to bookmark this site for arrived back in future.