Cooling the Lava By Usman Hanif and Andrew Friedman T horbjorn Sigurgeirsson University of Iceland Physical Laboratory Heimaey L argest island of Vestmannaeyjar What Happened Eldfell quotfire mountainquot in Icelandic is a volcano on the island of Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar 15 mi ID: 766420
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Cooling the Lava By: Usman Hanif and Andrew Friedman
T horbjorn Sigurgeirsson University of Iceland, Physical Laboratory Heimaey L argest island of Vestmannaeyjar
What Happened? Eldfell ("fire mountain" in Icelandic) is a volcano on the island of Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar 15 miles (25 km) south of Iceland. In January of 1973, an eruption began along a 1.5 mile (2 km) long fissure not far from the center of the town of Vestmannaeyjar. The fissure extended across the entire island, producing a spectacular curtain of fire. Nearly all of the island's 5,300 residents were evacuated to the mainland. Heimaey accounted for 2 percent of Iceland’s total population but produces 1/12 of its export income
Before After
Timeline of the Catastrophe Within two days, activity became localized to a central vent and fire fountains constructed a cinder and spatter cone 350 feet (100 m) above sea level. A central vent connects the magma chamber to the open vent on top of a volcano, and is maintained open by the continuous release of volcanic material. Strong winds blew tephra from the eruption and buried homes in the town Vestmannaeyjar. In proximity to the crater, huge volcanic bombs were released. These bombs were ejections of molten lava that flew high into the air, became spherical, and, with contained gases, sometimes exploded fireworks. Bombs generally molten and when they landed red-hot liquid would be poured out.
Lava Flow The initial eruption rate was close to 130 cubic yards (100 cubic meters) per second. By the middle of April, the eruption rate had dropped to 7 cubic yards (5 cubic meters) per second. The eruption stopped in early July. In mid-February small molten lava streams appear near the bottom on its north side. The north side of the mountain breaks loose. It begins to move towards the port. Lava flows approach the harbor's breakwater at a rate of one hundred feet a day. It is likely to cross the breakwater and fill the harbor. Thorbjorn plans to pump seawater below surface in its molten cracks to cool them. They pump thirty million gallons of seawater on the lava field to cool it.
Historical Attempts to Control Lava The U.S. Army Air Corps bombs an insulating vent on the Mauna Loa volcano in 1935. The attempt clogs it with debris and forces lava flows aside Hawaiian natives accept eruptions as acts of God. They pray and make offerings The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration builds small buildings in 1986 to house expensive instruments. They protect them with a barrier from lava flowing down from eleven thousand feet on Mauna Loa. Barriers are proposed to protect Hilo, which is Hawaii's second-largest city and port. Firefighters do not stop or divert lava flows due to legal costs
Cooling Of The Lava Ending Population on Heimaey dropped by 12 percent Much of the island is a pumice desert after the eruption The eruption narrowed the harbor from half a mile wide to 500 feet wide so it is now less exposed to eastern wind and waves The volcano still releases heat which residents utilize in a central heating plant Cooling the lava flows cost $1.5 million The new cost savings from the natural heating, paving materials for streets, and harbor improvements save $30 million