Nanoscale dynamics of volcanic processes: Experimental insights and numerical simulations of explosive eruptions

Project Information

NANOVOLC

Grant agreement ID: 101044772

DOI

10.3030/101044772

EC signature date 23 November 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 999 073,39

EU contribution

€ 1 999 073,39

Coordinated by

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NANOVOLC (Nanoscale dynamics of volcanic processes: Experimental insights and numerical simulations of explosive eruptions)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Volcanic eruptions are a powerful force of nature that can have devastating effects on human populations, infrastructure, and the environment. However, predicting how eruptions will occur remains one of the greatest challenges in Earth science. The behavior of magma, particularly its viscosity, plays a crucial role in determining whether eruptions will be explosive or effusive. While significant progress has been made in studying magma's physical properties, understanding how physicochemical processes like crystal formation influence magma dynamics and eruption behavior remains limited.
The NANOVOLC project addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the role of nanocrystal (nanolite) formation in magmas. These tiny mineral crystals, which form within molten rock, significantly impact magma viscosity and eruption style. Understanding how nanolites affect magma behavior could be key to improving eruption forecasting and mitigating volcanic risks.
NANOVOLC aims to explore the relationship between nanolite crystallization and eruption style using advanced experimental techniques, including high-temperature and -pressure synchrotron-based imaging, real-time 3D tomography, and advanced measurements of magma properties combined with computational models. By studying nanolite formation and aggregation in real-time, the project will uncover hidden mechanisms that influence magma’s physical properties during eruptions. This research will enable scientists to build more accurate models of volcanic processes and improve eruption predictions.
The overall objective is to understand how nanocrystals form in volcanic magmas, how they interact with the surrounding melt, and how this influences magma’s ability to flow and cause explosive eruptions. By identifying the conditions under which nanolites form and their role in magma dynamics, NANOVOLC will help refine existing volcanic models, making them more robust and reliable.
The expected impact of NANOVOLC is far-reaching. By improving our understanding of nanoscale processes that govern volcanic eruptions, the project will enhance forecasting of eruption styles and intensities, crucial for managing volcanic risks. Additionally, findings from NANOVOLC could have broader applications in materials science, particularly in controlling crystallization in glass, with implications for the circular economy.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The NANOVOLC project has made significant progress in understanding the role of nanocrystals in volcanic magma dynamics. The focus has been to investigate how nanolites affect magma's viscosity and eruption behavior using a range of innovative experimental and observational techniques.
Key achievements include:

1. Development of synchrotron-based imaging for nanolite visualization
A major accomplishment has been the successful use of synchrotron-based X-ray ptychography and tomography to observe the formation and agglomeration of nanolites in volcanic rock. For the first time, we have visualized these nanocrystals in 3D, capturing their interaction with the molten melt and their impact on magma's physical properties. These observations are crucial for understanding how nanolite crystallization influences magma’s viscosity and fragmentation during eruptions.

2. Real-time nanolite formation observations
Another major achievement was the successful filming of in-situ nanocrystal formation in a magma at eruption temperatures. This groundbreaking experiment demonstrated how nanolite formation occurs in real-time under volcanic conditions. These observations were critical for understanding the kinetics of nanolite crystallization and its effect on magma’s viscosity and eruption dynamics.

3. High-temperature experiments on magma transport
The project has also made substantial advances in understanding the transport properties of volcanic melts, particularly in relation to nanolite content. We measured the viscosity of magmas with varying nanolite crystallization. Our results suggest that the presence of nanolites can increase magma viscosity by up to three orders of magnitude, significantly affecting eruption dynamics.

4. Numerical modelling
We integrated experimental data with computational models, developing new models that incorporate nanolite crystallization in magma transport and fragmentation. These models are expected to significantly improve our understanding of eruption dynamics.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The NANOVOLC project pushes the boundaries of volcanology by exploring processes at the nanoscale, where previous studies have not fully captured the complex interactions in volcanic magmas. Our findings go beyond the current state of the art in several key areas:
1. Insights into nanolite formation and magma behavior
The real-time observation of nanolite crystallization in volcanic magmas represents a groundbreaking step in understanding how nanocrystals form and interact within molten rock. This research is pivotal in understanding the transition from effusive to explosive eruptions, addressing a gap in current volcanic magma studies.

2. Advancing magma transport models
We demonstrated that the presence of nanolites can increase magma viscosity by up to three orders of magnitude. This challenges existing magma dynamics models, and by integrating these findings into new computational models, NANOVOLC is refining the scientific community's ability to forecast volcanic eruptions with greater reliability, especially in terms of explosivity and magma flow dynamics.

While the project has made significant progress, several key areas require further research and development to ensure the full potential of these findings is realized:
1. Continued experimental validation and data collection

Further field studies and laboratory experiments are required to validate our findings under different volcanic conditions, particularly in active volcanic systems. As more data is gathered, we will refine the models developed to enhance their predictive capabilities.
2. Collaboration and integration with industry

To maximize the impact of NANOVOLC, it is crucial to collaborate with industries involved in materials science. The integration of our findings into real-world applications will require access to markets and further collaboration with the private sector.