The latest from Lusi
The new, government approved method:
Under the new scheme proposed by Japanese scientists, double-walled cofferdams will be built to fence in the mud so it serves as a counterweight to the mudflow…
So that’s what “inverted pressure” means. Given that they’re having trouble holding in the mud at its current levels, one wonders how much more you need to have sitting over the vent to provide the appropriate pressure, and whether you can build dykes strong and durable enough to contain it.
But we also have distinctly unapproved method:
Magicians and others performing spiritual rites have been banned from throwing amulets and sacrificial animals into Indonesia’s massive “mud volcano” for fear of making the disaster worse./p>
Is this the Indonesian government taking a stand against woo? Or is it just that they’ve already tried this themselves?
If you want a better feel for the impact of this calamity on the surrounding towns and villages, the series of photos accompanying this New York Times Story (subscription possibly required), such as the one below, are pretty evocative.
Categories: geohazards, geology, Lusi
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