SCIARA γ2: An improved cellular automata model for lava flows and applications to the 2002 Etnean crisis

Cellular automata are widely utilized for modelling and simulating complex dynamical systems whose evolution depends on the local interactions of their constituent parts. Simulation by Cellular Interactive Automata of the Rheology of Aetnean lava flows (SCIARA) is a Cellular Automata model for simulating lava flows; its release γ2 introduces innovations to the empirical method for modelling macroscopic phenomena that was utilized in the previous releases. The lava flows are described as “blocks”, individuated by their barycentre co-ordinates and velocities. This approach is different from the previous releases of SCIARA and from cellular automata derived models for fluid-dynamical phenomena such as lattice-gas and lattice-Boltzmann models. Block specifications permit to obtain a more physical description of the phenomenon and a more accurate control of its development. SCIARA γ2 was applied to the 2002 Etnean lava flows with satisfying results, obtaining better simulations in comparison with the previous releases.