Program

Meeting Program (2.26MB)

Abstract volume (6.33MB)

Proposed Sessions

SYMPOSIUM1. KNOWING VOLCANOES

(* Session leaders, ** subleaders)

Session 1-1. Recent developments in volcano research

Keywords: Basic research, eruption mechanisms, structure and development of volcanoes, volcanic product, hazards assessment

Volcanic eruptions present increasingly significant threats to lives and infrastructure as populations expand into high-risk terrain and global air-traffic density intensifies. To mitigate these threats, accurate and increasingly quantitative assessments of hazardous events are needed. This symposium highlights recent developments in volcano research that elucidate the mechanics of volcanic eruptions and processes, and help to identify and assess hazardous events on all scales. It will focus particular attention on quantitative assessments based on modeling and field reconstructions.

Session 1-2. Volcano observation research and eruption forecast and alert programs

Keywords: Volcano monitoring, eruption forecast and prediction

Volcano monitoring through observation is the basis for most eruption forecasts and other measures for volcanic disaster mitigation. This session will have two subsessions on advances in the observational and analytical methods for (1) eruption forecasting, and (2) eruption detection and alerting. For the first sub-session, eruption forecasting, there are new geophysical, geochemical, petrological, and geological advances that help us to understand the changing states of volcanoes, and thus changes in the probability of an eruption. Equally, understanding of the state of the volcano can suggest alternate scenarios, e.g., stalling of an intrusion before it erupts. For the second sub-session on eruption detection and alerting, there are other valuable geophysical and geochemical technologies including many remote sensing techniques. Users of eruption alerts (e.g., air traffic) need rapid notification of the type and magnitude of eruptions, and other pertinent information such as observed ash concentrations, trajectories, etc. For both of our sub-sessions the emphasis will be on observations, particularly real-time observations, and interpretations of those observations. This will complement the emphasis of Session 1-1 on modeling.

Session 1-3. Health hazards of coexisting with active volcanoes

Keywords: Human health, medical care, geologic pollution

Twenty years ago, a landmark conference was held in Kagoshima, Japan on coexistence with volcanoes, it was the first major international multi-disciplinary conference to address the problems of cities and volcanoes. COV5 offers an important opportunity to review what progress has been made on the theme of coexistence and human health and sustainability near volcanoes in Japan and around the world over the last two decades. This session is open to all multidisciplinary research that addresses or relates to the theme with special emphasis on the future range for evaluating human health risk. In addition to direct impacts on human physical and mental health and well being from eruptions, other impacts on human health and sustainability in volcanic areas in the fields of air and water pollution, geochemistry, medical geology, animal health and global security (humanitarian crises and complex emergencies) will be included, with the intention of debating new and wide-ranging topics on health and earth processes, as well as health sector involvement in disaster management.

SYMPOSIUM 2. VOLCANOES AND CITIES

(* Session leaders, ** subleaders)

Session 2-1a. Responding to Natural Disasters: Case Histories with Lessons for Volcano Crises

Keywords: Emergency response, alert notification, evacuation, role of media

Although there are some aspects of volcanic crises that are somewhat unique to volcanoes (long lead times before and duration of volcanic events), many volcano hazard mitigation and response issues are common to all large-scale natural disasters-for example, alert notification, communication, evacuation, and public education. This symposium seeks to draw upon the broader scientific and emergency management community that has dealt with, or is planning for, largescale natural disasters to share their insights about what works and what doesn't. The session will focus on practical lessons and invite scientists, emergency responders and managers, public officials, and the media to share case histories of actual events, or of large-scale simulated events, to motivate discussions on how to prepare for, and respond to, volcano crises that affect communities. Case history topics of interest include, but are not restricted to: alert-level notification system; new technologies for warning populations; interagency structures for crisis response; the media's role in public warnings; how to or not handle large relief efforts; living with long-term volcanic activity; building an educated emergency response community; and evaluation of forecasting volcanic ash hazard and alerting.

Session 2-1b. Assessing longterm volcanic hazards and risks

Keywords: Infrequent volcanic eruptions, development of new volcanoes, large magnitude eruptions

Increasingly societies are becoming interested in long-term volcanic hazards and risks on timescales of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of years. This interest has come about because of the siting of critical facilities, some of which might be affected by hazardous events far into the future, and because of the long-term threat from very large magnitude but infrequent volcanic eruptions. This symposium will consider the scientific assessment of future volcanism and the attendant hazards and risks, including the development of new volcanoes and occurrence of large magnitude eruptions.

Session 2-2. Impacts of volcanic activity on infrastructure and effective risk reduction strategies

Keywords: Hazard assessment and mapping, risk analysis, sabo, cost-benefit analysis

Volcanic activity can profoundly affect buildings, power, water, transportation, communication, and other lifelines in cities and smaller communities. Strategies to reduce risk to critical infrastructure include comprehensive hazard assessment and mapping, vulnerability and risk analysis, land-use planning, development of mitigation and response plans, education, training, and engineering solutions. This symposium seeks to share recommendations and lessons learned from private industry, government agencies, utilities, elected officials, scientists, engineers, educators and others. Specific topics will include: eruption impact studies; response plans, effective warning systems and evacuation criteria for utilities; role of infrastructure in large-scale evacuations; managing sediment discharge following tephra accumulation; monitoring of hydrologic processes and topographic changes; engineering approaches to directly control volcanic risk (e.g., Sabo dams, drainage tunnels, degassing pipes); economic consequences of volcanic eruptions; and cost-benefit analyses of mitigation measures.

Session 2-3. Long-term land-use planning that mitigates volcanic risk

Keywords: Land use planning, hazard-resilient communities, reconstruction planning

Land-use planning can be used to effectively reduce volcanic risk to life and property. Planning should be used pro-actively, and seek to avoid or mitigate the effects of volcanic hazards at the earliest stage of development. In cases where development has already taken place, there may still be measures that can be employed to mitigate further risk. This session will: 1) introduce the role of land-use planning in building sustainable, hazard-resilient communities (including key concepts, challenges and opportunities); 2) consider the requirements of land-use planning for volcanic hazards in various countries, operating under different legislative frameworks; and 3) provide examples of good practice land-use planning for volcanic hazards.

SYMPOSIUM 3. LIVING WITH VOLCANOES

(* Session leaders, ** subleaders)

Session 3-1. Linkage for reducing volcanic risks: Cooperation and mutual support among researchers, administrators, mass media, inhabitants, local organization and volunteers.

Keywords: Linkage, cooperation, information exchange, crisis communication

Volcanic crises require efficient teamwork among scientists, public officials, news media and citizens at risk to mitigate disasters. There are a range of examples of a lack of, or poor, relationships and communication during volcano crises. Establishing good teamwork is a time-consuming task, and thus, direct communication and planning during non-crisis times is essential. For example, crisis management during the eruption at Usu Volcano in 2000 was successfully conducted because all key parties had made a concerted effort over the five years prior to the eruption, resulting in no casualties. This session will discuss the linkage of concerned parties to reduce volcanic risks and intends to include: lessons from a range of case studies; strategies for engagement of the community as a partner; preparing for effective response to warning systems; communication with the public, including discussion of "best practice" and available guidelines; public reactions to extreme threats; lessons from other "high stakes" hazard environments; teamwork in varied cultural settings; and the effective use of communication mediums, especially mass media and the Internet.

Session 3-2. Education and Outreach--Strategies that Improve Community Awareness about Volcanoes

Keywords: Education and risk communication

Population growth and tourism are bringing increasing numbers of people and infrastructure to volcanic regions of the world. The trend offers opportunities and challenges for volcanologists and officials who seek to reduce volcanic risk. This symposium considers effective strategies for communication and enhancing risk awareness. We will examine studies of risk perception, components necessary for effective awareness programs, examples of successes and challenges in volcano education and risk communication (includes parks and museums, community awareness programs, Internet, school education, and others), media interactions, use of folklore and local knowledge to improve awareness, and economic benefits that volcanoes bring to communities.

Session 3-3. Communities and volcanism - archaeology, tradition and recovery

Keywords: Historical disasters, recovery processes, cultural tradition

Crossovers between the sciences of archaeology, anthropology and volcanology have typically been made to either identify or disprove the catastrophic impacts of eruptions on communities and cultures. Little emphasis has been placed on elucidating how communities adapted to or recovered from normal" scales of volcanic activity. Oral and written accounts range from the apocalyptic to the development of ceremonies designed to encourage volcanic repetition. Do these hold evidence for community recovery, are they reliable records of volcanic impacts, and can they aid in future hazard mitigation? We invite papers in this symposium that consider the aftermath and community recovery from eruptions, and long-term coexistence with sporadically violent volcanism, using evidence from archaeology, the social sciences and community or individual psychology.