The Volcanic Hazards Assessment Support System for the Online Hazard Assessment and Risk Mitigation of Quaternary Volcanoes in the World

Shinji Takarada

doi:10.3389/feart.2017.00102

Abstract

Volcanic hazards assessment tools are essential for risk mitigation of volcanic activities. A number of offline volcanic hazard assessment tools have been provided, but in most cases, they require relatively complex installation procedure and usage. This situation causes limited usage of volcanic hazard assessment tools among volcanologists and volcanic hazards communities. In addition, volcanic eruption chronology and detailed database of each volcano in the world are essential key information for volcanic hazard assessment, but most of them are isolated and not connected to and with each other. The Volcanic Hazard Assessment Support System aims to implement a user-friendly, WebGIS-based, open-access online system for potential hazards assessment and risk-mitigation of Quaternary volcanoes in the world. The users can get up-to-date information such as eruption chronology and geophysical monitoring data of a specific volcano using the direct link system to major volcano databases on the system. Currently, the system provides 3 simple, powerful and notable deterministic modelling simulation codes of volcanic processes, such as Energy Cone, Titan2D and Tephra2. The system provides deterministic tools because probabilistic assessment tools are normally much more computationally demanding. By using the volcano hazard assessment system, the area that would be affected by volcanic eruptions in any location near the volcano can be estimated using numerical simulations. The system is being implemented using the ASTER Global DEM covering 2790 Quaternary volcanoes in the world. The system can be used to evaluate volcanic hazards and move this toward risk-potential by overlaying the estimated distribution of volcanic gravity flows or tephra falls on major roads, houses and evacuation areas using the GIS-enabled systems. The system is developed for all users in the world who need volcanic hazards assessment tools.

Highlights

A large number of fatalities due to volcanic events have been recorded such as 60,000 (1815 Tambora) and 36,417 (1883 Krakatau) (Takarada et al, 2016a)
A user-friendly, openaccess online volcanic hazard assessment system is necessary for risk-mitigation of volcanoes in the world
The Volcanic Hazards Assessment Support System (VHASS) provides 3 notable deterministic simulation models such as Energy Cone, Titan2D and Tephra2, which can estimate affected area caused by volcanic gravity flows and tephra falls

Summary

INTRODUCTION

A large number of fatalities due to volcanic events have been recorded such as 60,000 (1815 Tambora) and 36,417 (1883 Krakatau) (Takarada et al, 2016a). The VHASS provides 3 notable deterministic simulation models such as Energy Cone, Titan2D and Tephra, which can estimate affected area caused by volcanic gravity flows (e.g., pyroclastic flows and debris avalanches) and tephra falls. Many base maps are available for volcanic hazard assessments by volcanic gravity flows and tephra falls using the VHASS, which provide more information when overlaid with the simulation results. The user could assess affected areas (runout distances) by volcanic gravity flows by conducting as many simulations as possible with changing parameters and vent positions. The energy cone simulation could map possible potentially affected area, which is suitable for the creation or revision of hazard maps and real-time hazard mapping This model is not considering volcanic gravity flow dynamics. Future PDC hazard assessments such as velocities, path, distribution area and deposit thickness are possible using Titan2D simulations on VHASS.

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CONCLUSIONS