Magma flows within dikes are influenced by viscosity and shear-thinning effects, affecting the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions.
Surface observations of magma dikes do not accurately represent the flow dynamics within, as demonstrated by a study using artificial dikes made of elastic gelatin.
Experiments with water and shear-thinning magma-mimicking liquids showed different flow patterns within the dikes, with shear-thinning liquids exhibiting smoother flow compared to water.
Volcanologists need to consider shear-thinning effects of magma when modeling underground flow to better understand and predict volcanic activity.