Volcanic Hazards

Volcanic Hazards

• Volcanic hazard: a danger to people, property, or the environment created directly or indirectly by volcanic activity
• Types of volcanic hazards:   * Landslides   * Tsunamis   * Ash falls   * Hot ash flows     * Pyroclastic flows   * Mudslides   * Lava flows   * Release of gas     * Fiery clouds     * Nuée ardente
• Key terms   * Exposure: people and property at risk to volcanic phenomena   * Volcanic threat: the qualitative risk of a volcano to people and property

Mitigation Methods

• Identification of hazardous areas
• Monitoring of hazardous areas
• Development of emergency plans for people residing in hazardous areas   * Eg. evacuation

Common Precursors to Volcanic Hazards

• Rising earthquake swarms
• Ground surface movement
• Increased presence of [abnormal] gases in the atmosphere
• Variant temperatures

Collecting Information

Risk Knowledge

• Systemic collection of information and undertaking of risk assessments   * Are hazards and vulnerabilities well known?   * Do patterns and trends exist in these factors? If so, what are they?   * Are risk maps and data widely available?

Monitoring and Warning Services

• Development of hazard monitoring and early warning services for people residing in the affected area   * Which parameters are being monitored and why?   * Is there a sound scientific forecasting system?   * Can accurate and timely warnings be generated?

Dissemination and Communication

• Communication of risk information and dispersion of early warnings   * Do warnings quickly and effectively reach everyone at risk?   * Are the risks and warnings understood by those reached?   * Is warning information clear and applicable?

Response Capability

• Creation of national and community response capabilities   * Are response plans up-to-date and regularly tested?   * Are local capacities of knowledge utilized to their full extent?   * Are people prepared to react to warnings?

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