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?