Reconciling bubble nucleation in explosive eruptions with geospeedometers

Magma from Plinian volcanic eruptions contains an extraordinarily large numbers of bubbles. Nucleation of those bubbles occurs because pressure decreases as magma rises to the surface. As a consequence, dissolved magmatic volatiles, such as water, become supersaturated and cause bubbles to nucleate. At the same time, diffusion of volatiles into existing bubbles reduces supersaturation, resulting in a dynamical feedback between rates of nucleation due to magma decompression and volatile diffusion. Because nucleation rate increases with supersaturation, bubble number density (BND) provides a proxy record of decompression rate, and hence the intensity of eruption dynamics. Using numerical modeling of bubble nucleation, we reconcile a long-standing discrepancy in decompression rate estimated from BND and independent geospeedometers. We demonstrate that BND provides a record of the time-averaged decompression rate that is consistent with independent geospeedometers, if bubble nucleation is heterogeneous and facilitated by magnetite crystals.

In situ observation of nanolite growth in volcanic melt: A driving force for explosive eruptions

Although gas exsolution is a major driving force behind explosive volcanic eruptions, viscosity is critical in controlling the escape of bubbles and switching between explosive and effusive behavior. Temperature and composition control melt viscosity, but crystallization above a critical volume (>30 volume %) can lock up the magma, triggering an explosion. Here, we present an alternative to this well-established paradigm by showing how an unexpectedly small volume of nano-sized crystals can cause a disproportionate increase in magma viscosity. Our in situ observations on a basaltic melt, rheological measurements in an analog system, and modeling demonstrate how just a few volume % of nanolites results in a marked increase in viscosity above the critical value needed for explosive fragmentation, even for a low-viscosity melt. Images of nanolites from low-viscosity explosive eruptions and an experimentally produced basaltic pumice show syn-eruptive growth, possibly nucleating a high bubble number density.

Development of Bubble Size Correlation for Adiabatic Forced Convective Bubbly Flow in Low Pressure Condition Using CFD Code

In a multidimensional two-phase flow analysis, bubble size significantly affects interfacial transfer terms such as mass, momentum, and energy. With regard to bubbly flow, the application of a simple correlation-type bubble size model presents certain advantages, including short calculation times and ease of usage. In this study, we propose a semi-theoretical correlation developed from a steady state bubble number density transport equation for predicting the distribution of local bubble size using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The coefficients of the new correlation were determined using the local bubble parameters obtained on the basis of three existing vertical air-water experiments. Finally, these were implemented in commercial CFD code and evaluated against experimental data, which showed that the proposed correlation exhibits good prediction capability for forced convective air-water bubbly flows under low pressure conditions.

Can nanolites enhance eruption explosivity?

Degassing dynamics play a crucial role in controlling the explosivity of magma at erupting volcanoes. Degassing of magmatic water typically involves bubble nucleation and growth, which drive magma ascent. Crystals suspended in magma may influence both nucleation and growth of bubbles. Micron- to centimeter-sized crystals can cause heterogeneous bubble nucleation and facilitate bubble coalescence. Nanometer-scale crystalline phases, so-called “nanolites”, are an underreported phenomenon in erupting magma and could exert a primary control on the eruptive style of silicic volcanoes. Yet the influence of nanolites on degassing processes remains wholly uninvestigated. In order to test the influence of nanolites on bubble nucleation and growth dynamics, we use an experimental approach to document how nanolites can increase the bubble number density and affect growth kinetics in a degassing nanolite-bearing silicic magma. We then examine a compilation of these values from natural volcanic rocks from explosive eruptions leading to the inference that some very high naturally occurring bubble number densities could be associated with the presence of magmatic nanolites. Finally, using a numerical magma ascent model, we show that for reasonable starting conditions for silicic eruptions, an increase in the resulting bubble number density associated with nanolites could push an eruption that would otherwise be effusive into the conditions required for explosive behavior.

The effect of nanolites on degassing of silica-rich magma

<p>Magma degassing dynamics play an important role controlling the explosivity of volcanic eruptions. Some of the largest explosive eruptions in history have been fed by silica-rich magmas in volcanic systems with complex dynamics of volatiles degassing. Degassing of magmatic water drives bubble nucleation and growth, which in turn increases magma buoyancy and results in magma ascent and an eventual eruption. While micro- to milli-meter sized crystals are known to cause heterogeneous bubble nucleation and to facilitate bubble coalescence, the effects of nanolites remains mostly unexplored. Nanolites have been hypothesized to be a primary control on the eruptive style of silicic volcanoes, however the mechanisms behind this control remains unclear.</p><p>Here we use an experimental approach to show how nanolites dramatically increase the bubble number density in a degassing silicic magma compared to the same magma without nanolites. The experiments were conducted using both nanolite-free and nanolite-bearing rhyolitic glass with different low initial water content. Using an Optical Dilatometer at 1 bar ambient pressure, cylindrical samples were heated at variable rates (1-30 °C min<sup>-1</sup>) to final temperatures of 820-1000 °C. This method allowed us to continuously monitor the volume, and hence porosity evolution in time. X-ray computed microtomography (µCT) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses revealed low and high bubble number densities for the nanolite-free and nanolite-bearing samples respectively.</p><p>Comparing vesicle number densities of natural volcanic rocks from explosive eruptions and our experimental results, we speculate that some very high naturally occurring bubble number densities could be associated with nanolites. We use a magma ascent model with P-T-H<sub>2</sub>O starting conditions relevant for known silicic eruptions to further underpin that such an increase in bubble number density caused driven by the presence of nanolites can feasibly turn an effusive eruption to an eventually explosive behavior.</p>

Bubble Generation Behavior Around a Rotating Body in Highly Viscous Fluid

Inside an automobile engine, there are a camshaft, a crankshaft, a chain sprocket, etc. that transmit driving force. There are many rotating parts installed there. For example, there are gears soaking in engine oil, and bubbles are generated by rotating gears which drag air into engine oil. That raises void fraction of the engine oil. The void fraction is the gas phase fraction per unit volume. In general, high void fraction causes decreasing performance of the engine oil, such as lubrication, cooling and pressure transmission. Although it is required to reduce void fraction and establish a defoaming technique, the processes of bubble generation have not been clarified. One of the reasons is difficulty to measure void fraction and other physical parameters in oil flow using a real engine. Therefore, the influence of rotating speed, number of teeth, and kinematic viscosity of test fluid on bubble generation behavior is not grasped in detail. In this study, the motivation is to understand the mechanism of bubble generation behavior around a rotating body. Detailed visualization was conducted around a rotating body soaking in fluid. The actual phenomena were reproduced by using silicone oil having the same kinematic viscosity of real engine oil. From the visualization using a high speed video camera, there are some characteristic phenomena such as dragging air, subdividing bubbles, and bubbles coalescence. By using observed images, we measured bubble diameter and bubble number density with image processing. Rotating speed, shapes of the rotating bodies, and kinematic viscosity of the test fluids affected on bubble generation behavior. In particular, as the rotating speed increased, the bubble diameter decreased and the bubble number density increased.