Ice Avalanche in the Lab

"A new experiment in the UK has been created to simulate ice avalanches, a hazard that can follow the collapse of a glacier or the eruption of an ice-capped volcano. Despite the obvious risk these events pose to nearby people and communities, they are still a relatively unexplored geological phenomenon. Early results from the experiment suggest that melting at the surface of individual ice particles helps to explain how these flows can travel so fluidly down a slope. Ultimately, the research could lead to more accurate systems for predicting the onset and characteristics of ice avalanches in regions of the world prone to the hazard."

in PhysicsWorld