The secrets of climate change may soon be revealed to a British professor and his research team.

Harry Pinkerton, Professor of Physical Volcanology at the University of Lancaster is analysing the rheological properties of molten lava. This information is vital for creating realistic models of lava flows which will be used to predict the final lengths and advance rates of lava flows on volcanoes.

During field trips to Mount Etna, Sicily, he uses equipment he has developed based on a high performance torque sensor.

Pinkerton sinks a paddle into a lava flow, drive it at different speed from 0.1rpm to 60rpm and record the lava’s resistance to movement on to a PC. In fact it is not only the speed that it's varied, but also the depth of penetration into the lava.

The sensing and data capture is done through a Torqsense unit, which is robust enough yet so sensitive that it can detect the slightest change in dynamics. It is a non-contact transducer that uses surface acoustic waves (SAWs) as frequency dependent strain gauges to measure the change in resonant frequency in the paddle's drive shaft as it is subjected to strain. This measurement is directly related to the torque, a key parameter in Professor Pinkerton’s analysis.

Sensor Technology Ltd is based in Upper Heyford, Bicester, Oxon, UK. www.sensors.co.uk