The literature on the viscosity of lava flows is meager. Lava tube systems have not yet been found within silicic flows [Williams and McBirney, ⦠Penetrometers are suitable for relatively high viscosity (10 4 â10 6 Pa s) lava flows, but care has to be taken to ensure that the sensor is at lava temperature and measurements are not affected by the resistance of outer cooled crust. Water has the effect of depolymerizing (6) magmas. Determining the viscosity of an active lava flow, however, is nontrivial. Viscosity can also be thought of as a measure of how âthickâ a liquid is. As a lava moves, depending upon the loss of vapour and temperature, its viscosity changes laterally and temporally. 1 Obtaining 1.1 Natural generation 2 Usage 2.1 Fuel 2.2 Burning 2.2.1 Java Edition 2.2.2 Bedrock ⦠Lv 7. Another method involves 107 measuring the mean velocity of lava in active channels to derive the rheological parameters. 106 flow viscosity using this method (e.g. Adding water. So, the more viscous the magma, and subsequently lava, the slower its flow is. The high fluidity (low viscosity) of Hawaiian lavas derives mainly from its basaltic composition, characterized by more iron (Fe), ⦠Relevance. The one with the lowest viscosity is the water, which represents the basaltic type of lava. The one with the medium viscosity is the cooking oil, which represents the andesitic type of lava. Favorite Answer. Viscosity denotes opposition to flow. The viscosity of lava differs depending on the amount of silica in each type of lava. Water has a low viscosity while, things like syrup or shampoo have higher viscosities. The viscosity of lava is an important control on the explosiveness of a volcanic eruption. While Lava can generate at any level including on the Overworld surface, lava generates mostly below y-level 11 in the Overworld and below y-level 31 in the Nether. Fluid Viscosity. Viscosity is also dependent on temperature, for example, engine oil is less viscous at high temperatures than it is in a cold engine in the middle of winter. Lava's flow depends on its temperature. Viscosity is the resistance of flow. adshelp[at]cfa.harvard.edu The ADS is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory under NASA Cooperative Agreement NNX16AC86A What are 2 factors that influence the viscosity of a lava flow? A'A' Flows - Higher viscosity basaltic and andesitic lavas also initially develop a smooth surface skin, but this is quickly broken up by flow of the molten lava within and by gases that continue to escape from the lava. 1 decade ago. Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow. The viscosity of a synthetic silicate liquid with the composition of a lunar rock has been determined experimentally and found to be lower than that of any previously studied volcanic rock on earth. The opposite is true for lava that has a lot of silica and has a low temperature (high viscosity). Fluid viscosity is in basic terms a measure of how sticky it is. The viscosity of a substance is a measure of its consistency. Palmer2 calculated the viscosity of the Alika flow of Hawaii, also basaltic, and found it to be 15 times that of water. The viscosity of a magma is an important parameter that influence how it erupts at the Earth surface. Pyroclastic flows move more like a dense, low-viscosity gas pouring down a slope and even move upslope if they have enough momentum; their downslope velocities often exceed 100 km (60 ⦠True or False Using a series of three short demonstrations, students can compare and contrast this characteristic of felsic and mafic magma / lava and get a better understanding of viscosity and how it impacts eruptions and volcano type. So the temperature is the major determinant of the viscosity of lava. 1 - temperature (the higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity) 2 - chemical composition (the higher the silica content, the higher the viscosity). measured the viscosity of basaltic magma in the still molten Makaopuhi lava lake, Hawaii.