Geological fluid mechanics (Q2708433)

This review article is devoted to a relatively new subject of geological fluid mechanics, dealing with the motion of fluid materials that upon either solidification or sedimentation become the rocks that make up the Earth. The emphasis is put on the passage of magma as it percolates through the mantle, evolves within magma chambers, and erupts through volcanic vents either as lava flows or as vast ash-laden plumes into the atmosphere. Additionally, the author discusses other flows within and of the Earth, in particular reactive flows in porous sedimentary rocks, flows in geothermal reservoirs, and flows of molten iron in the inner Earth core, which drive the geodynamo.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe paper contains the following main parts: 1. The Earth; 2. Fluid processes in magma chambers; 3. The propagation of magma through the crust; 4. Fluid mechanics and thermodynamics of volcanic eruption columns; 5. Gravity currents: pyroclastic flows, turbidity currents, lava domes; 6. Extra topics. Many impressive colour photographs illustrate the text.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0952.00020].