Observations of the effect of wind on the cooling of active lava flows
January 1, 2003
We present the first direct observations of the cooling of active lava flows by the wind. We confirm that atmospheric convective cooling processes (i.e., the wind) dominate heat loss over the lifetime of a typical pahoehoe lava flow. In fact, the heat extracted by convection is greater than predicted, especially at wind speeds less than 5 m/s and surface temperatures less than 400°C. We currently estimate that the atmospheric heat transfer coefficient is about 45–50 W m−2K−1 for a 10 m/s wind and a surface temperature ∼500°C. Further field experiments and theoretical studies should expand these results to a broader range of surface temperatures and wind speeds.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2003 |
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Title | Observations of the effect of wind on the cooling of active lava flows |
DOI | 10.1029/2003GL017994 |
Authors | Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Andrew J. L. Harris, Jonathan Dehn |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Geophysical Research Letters |
Index ID | 70025611 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Astrogeology Science Center |