Measuring The Rate Of Flow Inflation

Here two geologists are using a surveyor's level to make a traverse across a pahoehoe flow. By making measurements every week they were able to measure the rate at which the flow inflated. Evidence that much of the thickness of a tube-fed pahoehoe flow is achieved by inflation is seen by the abandoned car. The initial thickness of the flow can be seen by the fact that the car was only buried up to its tires. However, at the time that this picture was taken the flow was 3-4 meters thick. Most of this thickness had to therefore have taken place by inflation and as the flow inflated the car got carried along as well.

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