First experimental observations on melting and chemical modification of volcanic ash during lightning interaction.

ABSTRACT: Electrification in volcanic ash plumes often leads to syn-eruptive lightning discharges. High temperatures in and around lightning plasma channels have the potential to chemically alter, re-melt, and possibly volatilize ash fragments in the eruption cloud. In this study, we experimentally simulate temperature conditions of volcanic lightning in the laboratory, and systematically investigate the effects of rapid melting on the morphology and chemical composition of ash. Samples of different size and composition are ejected towards an artificially generated electrical arc. Post-experiment ash morphologies include fully melted spheres, partially melted particles, agglomerates, and vesiculated particles. High-speed imaging reveals various processes occurring during the short lightning-ash inte

SUBMITTER: Mueller SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5780474 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature