Lava flows: theory, lab, experiments and field data

About the talk

World wide, unconstrained lava flows kill people almost each year and cause extensive damage, costing millions of pounds. Defending against lava flows is possible by using topographic variations sensibly, placing buildings considerately, constructing defending walls of appropriate size and the like.

Hinton, Hogg and Huppert have recently published two rather mathematical papers outlining how viscous flows down slopes interact with a variety of geometrical shapes; evaluating, in particular, the conditions under which “dry zones” form – safe places for people and belongings – and the size of a protective wall required to defend a given size building.

Following a desktop experimental demonstration, we will discuss these analyses and their consequences.

About the speaker

Emeritus Professor Herbert Huppert, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Geophysics, University of Cambridge.

Emeritus Professor Herbert Huppert from the University of Cambridge

Professor Herbert Huppert FRS is Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Geophysics in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge. His theoretical and laboratory based work has improved our understanding of the behaviour of fluids in and on the Earth’s surface, and his work on convective systems has been crucial for an improved comprehension of our planet’s response to a changing climate. Often in demand as a scientific authority, Herbert served as Chair of a Royal Society working group on bioterrorism, which prepared a report for the British Government, a European Academies working group on Carbon Capture and Storage, which prepared a report for the European Parliament and has acted as an adviser to numerous other government bodies. He has received many awards for his work, including the Bakerian Lectureship of the Royal Society, a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship and The Australian Academy’s Selby Public Lectureship 2019.

About the Selby Travelling Lectures

This lecture forms part of a series of Selby Travelling Fellowship Lectures by the 2019 recipient Emeritus Professor Herbert Huppert which will also be detailed on the events pages of this website as dates and times are confirmed.

Fellowships are awarded to distinguished overseas scientists to visit Australia for public lecture/seminar tours and to visit scientific centres in Australia.

The Fellowship is financed through the generosity of the trustees of the Selby Scientific Foundation.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Macquarie University,9 Wally’s Walk New South Wales

Contact Information

fse.mathstats-enquiries@mq.edu.au

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM October 31, 2019
Add to reminder to
Add to Calendar 31/10/2019 1:00 PM 31/10/2019 2:00 PM Australia/Sydney Lava flows: theory, lab, experiments and field data

About the talk

World wide, unconstrained lava flows kill people almost each year and cause extensive damage, costing millions of pounds. Defending against lava flows is possible by using topographic variations sensibly, placing buildings considerately, constructing defending walls of appropriate size and the like.

Hinton, Hogg and Huppert have recently published two rather mathematical papers outlining how viscous flows down slopes interact with a variety of geometrical shapes; evaluating, in particular, the conditions under which “dry zones” form – safe places for people and belongings – and the size of a protective wall required to defend a given size building.

Following a desktop experimental demonstration, we will discuss these analyses and their consequences.

About the speaker

Emeritus Professor Herbert Huppert, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Geophysics, University of Cambridge.

Emeritus Professor Herbert Huppert from the University of Cambridge

Professor Herbert Huppert FRS is Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Geophysics in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge. His theoretical and laboratory based work has improved our understanding of the behaviour of fluids in and on the Earth’s surface, and his work on convective systems has been crucial for an improved comprehension of our planet’s response to a changing climate. Often in demand as a scientific authority, Herbert served as Chair of a Royal Society working group on bioterrorism, which prepared a report for the British Government, a European Academies working group on Carbon Capture and Storage, which prepared a report for the European Parliament and has acted as an adviser to numerous other government bodies. He has received many awards for his work, including the Bakerian Lectureship of the Royal Society, a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship and The Australian Academy’s Selby Public Lectureship 2019.

About the Selby Travelling Lectures

This lecture forms part of a series of Selby Travelling Fellowship Lectures by the 2019 recipient Emeritus Professor Herbert Huppert which will also be detailed on the events pages of this website as dates and times are confirmed.

Fellowships are awarded to distinguished overseas scientists to visit Australia for public lecture/seminar tours and to visit scientific centres in Australia.

The Fellowship is financed through the generosity of the trustees of the .

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Macquarie University,9 Wally’s Walk New South Wales false DD/MM/YYYY

Contact Information

fse.mathstats-enquiries@mq.edu.au

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM October 31, 2019

© 2024 Australian Academy of Science

Top