DOWNFLOW code and LIDAR technology for lava flow analysis and hazard assessment at Mount Etna

A novel combination of probabilistic lava-flow simulation (DOWNFLOW) and high-resolution LIDAR technology reveals the dynamic behavior of compound lava flow fields at Mount Etna. The study found that such flows consist of narrow, disjointed units (5-15 m wide) with widely varying advance velocities (3-90 m/h), fed by uneven lava pulses within channels. This complexity challenges deterministic models due to the difficulty in measuring key parameters like discharge rate or viscosity. DOWNFLOW overcomes this by statistically accounting for perturbations and pre-eruption topography, enabling the creation of a lava-flow hazard map based on vent probability and expected flow length. The research also addresses recent morphological changes at Mount Etna, providing critical insights for volcanic hazard assessment.

Favalli, M., Tarquini, S., & Fornaciai, A. (2011). DOWNFLOW code and LIDAR technology for lava flow analysis and hazard assessment at Mount Etna. Annals of Geophysics, 54(5). https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-5339