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?