How to stop or slow down lava flows

摘要

It is proposed to use the strongly endothermic dissociation reactions of common carbonate rocks to rapidly cool lava flows,in order to prevent them from destroying human habitations.Lava flows sometimes threaten and destroy human settlements.In 1973,the Icelanders had some success with pouring lots of seawater over an advancing lava flow at Heimaey in order to prevent the lava from closing their harbour(Thorarinsson et al.,1973).On the Etna huge earth walls are built in order to divert lavas that threaten to reach villages.This has probably saved the town of Zafferana during the 1991-1993 eruptive cycle(Barberi etal,1993).