VOLCANO: IUGG statement on volcanological and meteorological support for volcanic ash monitoring

Kirsten Chojnicki <kchojnic@xxxxxxx> · Wed, 2 Jun 2010 10:03:52 -0700

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IUGG statement on volcanological and meteorological support for 
volcanic ash monitoring
From: Andrew Tupper <A.Tupper@xxxxxxxxxx>
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Dear all,

In the past two months, the International Union of Geodesy and 
Geophysics (IUGG), the umbrella union of the International Association 
of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI), has 
published two statements related to volcanic ash clouds and the 
Eyjafjallajökull eruption.  These statements have had multiple authors 
within IAVCEI as well as taking into account the views of other member 
associations of the IUGG (through the facilitation of the Dr Nakada and 
Dr Marti of IAVCEI, and Dr Beer and Dr Ismail-Zadeh of the IUGG). The 
statements can be found at: http://www.iugg.org/about/special.php

The second of these IUGG statements, which focuses on the role of 
volcano observatories, has just been published. I include the text 
below.

(A link to IAVCEI can also be found on the site above, which explains 
the role of the various IAVCEI Commissions, how to become a member (http://www.iavcei.org/IAVCEI_members/howmember_IAVCEI.htm
 ), and so on.)

kind regards,

Andrew Tupper

Dr Andrew Tupper,

co-leader, World Organisation of Volcano Observatories, www.wovo.org<http://www.wovo.org>

(a Commission of the International Association of Volcanology and 
Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI))

<http://www.iugg.org/about/special.php>

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INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS

UNION GEODESIQUE ET GEOPHYSIQUE INTERNATIONALE

STATEMENT

“Volcanological and Meteorological Support for Volcanic Ash Monitoring”

Adopted by the IUGG Bureau on 28 May 2010

This Statement follows the IUGG Statement of 20 April 2010 on Volcanic 
Ash Clouds.

The eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, during early 2010, have 
highlighted the importance of

a close understanding of the eruptive state of each of the world’s 
active volcanoes, for the safety

and health of local residents as well as for air traffic and other 
purposes. It has become

increasingly evident during the eruption that accurate specification of 
the ash column height and

the ash characteristics from the eruption are necessary for safe and 
efficient routing of air traffic.

To be able to forecast ash clouds for the aviation hazards, the clouds’ 
concentration, particle size

and total mass is required in real time. The work of the volcanologists 
and meteorologists of

Iceland, bringing together earth and atmospheric sciences, in support of
 the operations of the

London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, has been critically important in 
this regard.

In improving the global response to volcanic clouds as aviation hazards,
 it must be understood

that the great majority of the Earth’s active volcanoes are located in 
less industrialized countries

or in remote locations, and are not monitored to the standards of 
Iceland. Only about 50% of the

World's volcanoes that currently threaten air operations have any sort 
of ground based

monitoring. Also, less than 50 of the 1300 volcanoes with Holocene age 
eruptions

(approximately the last 12000 years) worldwide are considered to be well
 monitored.

In this regard, the IUGG emphasises:

- The capability to understand, forecast and promptly report eruptions, 
based on thorough study

and instrumentation of active volcanoes, remains vital for aviation 
safety, for residents

exposed to local volcanic hazards, and also for assessing the magnitude 
and effects of

volcanic emissions on our atmosphere and climate;

- An improvement in support for local volcano observatories would 
improve the timing, scope,

and accuracy of information on volcanic activity;

- In meeting requirements from the International Civil Aviation 
Organization (ICAO) for

States to provide volcanological information to aviation, the long term 
sustainability of such

support for volcano observatories is an important consideration. ICAO, 
advised by the

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and other organisations 
including the World

Meteorological Organization (WMO), has prepared arrangements where a 
State may choose

to recover reasonable costs for the provision of information to aviation
 from the aviation

industry. A State could, alternatively, choose to support observatories 
directly without such

arrangements. Guidelines on these issues are now available as referenced
 below;

- Any volcanic crisis places high pressure on the responsible agency: 
support for aviation

functions is typically only one of many aspects of a volcanic crisis 
that volcanologists must

consider. International science protocols, prepared by IUGG constituent 
association, the

International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s 
Interior (IAVCEI),

already exist to assist in scientific cooperation during a crisis, and 
may be useful in the

context of an aviation-focused volcanic crisis;

- Where observations exist (such as satellite data, pilot reports and 
meteorological radar

coverage over a volcanic area), arrangements for multi-disciplinary 
observation sharing

between all those concerned with the hazard assessment from the volcanic
 activity should be

specified and followed to ensure the best possible use of observations.

In summary, increased support for the volcano observatories of the 
world, as part of the

international science effort to improve volcanic cloud monitoring, is a 
necessary measure for

improving volcanic impact