Maximiliano Arancibia, Matías San Martín, Carlos Jerez
JI3 2016, number 7, pages 52-63.
Authorized image reproduction. Martin Heck
Abstract
The high environmental impact generated by volcanic eruptions in their surroundings, caused by the high concentrations of air pollutants released in each eruption, is unquestionable. The impact is even higher in a country like Chile, where almost 20% of the active volcanoes in the world are located. Volcanic eruptions contain high levels of toxic gases that are harmful to human health and endanger the habitability of towns around the eruption’s site. Clear examples of this are the recent eruptions of Calbuco, Villarrica and Chaitén volcanoes. Looking to implement a mathematical model that allows us to analyze the gas concentration levels of air pollutants generated by a volcanic eruption, this investigation will deepen the analysis of the convectiondiffusion equation with velocity field as a potential flow, ensuring a unique solution within the parameters stipulated and physical assumptions. A discrete model solved by the finite element method is proposed to find a numerical solution to the pollutants concentration levels for which some graphic results will be shown over time.