Integrating computer simulations and experiments to study explosive volcanic eruptions

Explosive eruptions cannot be directly measured because they are inaccessible, which is the reason why computer simulations are developing more and more in volcanology. Calculations of volcanic hazard take substantial advantage of the simulations, particularly when they are validated experimentally. Here, an integrated approach is proposed, which combines 3D simulations and large-scale experiments, in order to provide an effective tool that helps detailing actual explosive eruptions. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012