Topographic Effects on Geologic Mass Movements

Abstract

This report describes research directed toward understanding the response of volcanic lahars and lava flows to changes in the topography along the path of the flow. We have used a variety of steady-state and time-dependent models of lahars and lava flows to calculate the changes in flow dynamics due to variable topography. These models are based on first-order partial differential equations for the local conservation of volume. A global volume conservation requirement is also imposed to determine the extent of the flow as a function of time and the advance rate. Simulated DEMs have been used in this report.