Sawtooth wave-like pressure changes in a syrup eruption experiment: implications for periodic and nonperiodic volcanic oscillations

Abstract

This study is based on the observation of sawtooth wave-like pressure changes (STW) observed during repetitive gas emissions in a syrup eruption experiment. Similar waveforms are observed at many active volcanoes as geodetic signals. By studying the physics of such experiments, we often find new ideas and insights that are applicable to natural volcanic phenomena. We consequently try identifying the features common to both our experimental system and natural volcanic systems. We infer that the oscillatory mechanism in our experiment is similar to flow-induced oscillation controlled by a coupling between elastic capacitance and variable flow resistance. We developed an elementary pipe–chamber system to quantitatively test this hypothesis. We observed three distinct oscillatory patterns: periodic STW, non-STW, and nonperiodic STW. A mathematical model is constructed to support the hypothesis and to enable comparison with existing models of volcanic systems. Models of flow-induced volcanic oscillations are mathematically similar to the model derived from our experimental system. Our results indicate that flow pattern transitions are essential for oscillatory behavior during gas emission. An important finding is that cycle periodicity and fluctuation are controlled by interactions between upward and downward flow within the pipe, especially during the termination of gas emission and the transition to the next cycle. Similar interactions occur in natural volcanoes: during the termination of an explosive eruption, fall-back or drain-back of ejected materials may modulate the explosivity and periodicity of the next eruption cycle. Our experimental system may provide a useful tool for understanding the oscillatory behavior of natural volcanic systems. This study may also give a proof that the original eruption experiment provides a useful tool for explaining the dynamics of oscillatory and eruptive behaviors of natural volcanic systems in educational (e.g., Open Day) demonstrations.