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Balls finally dropped into mud volcano

Indonesian physicists have started deploying chains of concrete balls in an attempt to stem the flow of mud in East Java.

For nine months Indonesian officials have been reacting to the torrent of mud that started erupting from a rice paddy in the village of Porong, East Java, with embankments and evacuations. This weekend they began experimenting with a new strategy for controlling the flow.

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Posted by Nicola Jones on February 26, 2007
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Stopping a volcano with concrete spheres? Bollocks, I say!

Posted by: Mike Swanton | February 28, 2007 01:23 AM

I think these guys are doing a great job. If they fail, ignominy awaits, but if they succeed...

Posted by: mick | February 28, 2007 10:54 AM

Comment on Story: “Volcano gets choke chains to slow mud” by David Cyranoski

This story appears to prove the contention that the quality of thought in this area and devoted to this issue is not that great! Three simple questions illustrate the point:

First question: Why and how did the vent get so large in the first place? Ans: The erosive power of the mud flow.

Second question: Why did the vent stop growing in size. Ans: A dynamic equilibrium was established between the erosive power (flow velocity dependent) and vent size; the larger the vent the slower the flow velocity against the vent walls and the lower the erosive force.

Final question: Now If I insert a dense, hard material (steel balls and chain) into the vent to partially block the vent what happens? Ans: Flow velocity around the obstruction increases, increasing erosive power and eroding the rock on the side of the vent creating a new bypass of the obstruction.

Eventually the steel balls and chain will sink to about 3,000 metres and into the mud source, by a continual process of local fluid velocity acceleration and erosion around them….all with no impact on flow volume!

Posted by: L Taylor | March 17, 2007 06:40 AM

Now If I insert a dense, hard material (steel balls and chain) into the vent to partially block the vent what happens? Ans: Flow velocity around the obstruction increases, increasing erosive power and eroding the rock on the side of the vent creating a new bypass of the obstruction.

Posted by: Apteka internetowa | August 7, 2007 11:50 PM

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