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The Application of Volcanology Research to Emergency Management

Edited by: Dr Jan Lindsay, Ms Christina Neal, Dr Thomas Wilson, Laura Sandri

This thematic series highlights volcanological research that has been or is being directly applied to emergency management. Topics of interest include:

  • evacuation management in response to volcanic risk
  • volcanology informing critical infrastructure (lifelines) emergency planning or component/network design
  • development and application of volcanic warning systems and hazard message protocols
  • development and application of community outreach programmes
  • analysis of volcanology input to crisis decision making
  • volcanic eruption disaster exercises or simulations
  • case studies of volcanic risk reduction in practice


  1. Hazard assessments for long-dormant volcanoes, where information is rarely available, typically have to be made rapidly and in the face of considerable uncertainty and often poor information. A conditional (as...

    Authors: S F Jenkins, S Barsotti, T K Hincks, A Neri, J C Phillips, R S J Sparks, T Sheldrake and G Vougioukalakis
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:16
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. Despite a long history of volcanic debris flows on the northern flank of San Vicente Volcano, El Salvador, authorities and communities were ill-prepared for the lahars that occurred on Nov. 7–8, 2009. More tha...

    Authors: Luke J Bowman and Kari B Henquinet
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:14
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. We present an interactive, immersive, authentic role-play simulation designed to teach tertiary geoscience students in New Zealand to forecast and mitigate a volcanic crisis. Half of the participating group (i...

    Authors: Jacqueline Dohaney, Erik Brogt, Ben Kennedy, Thomas M Wilson and Jan M Lindsay
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:12
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. Training non-scientists in the use of volcano-monitoring data is critical preparation in advance of a volcanic crisis, but it is currently unclear which methods are most effective for improving the content-kno...

    Authors: Rachel Teasdale, Katrien van der Hoeven Kraft and Michael P Poland
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:11
    Content type: Research Published on:

  5. The successful handling of Tungurahua’s frequent eruptions during 15 years via permanent instrumental monitoring and good community relations by the Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGE...

    Authors: Patricia A Mothes, Hugo A Yepes, Minard L Hall, Patricio A Ramón, Alexander L Steele and Mario C Ruiz
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:9
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. The primary volcano hazard in Alaska is airborne ash, which endangers aircraft flying the busy North Pacific air routes and consequently affects global commerce. Downwind ashfall is also a significant threat t...

    Authors: Kristi Wallace, Seth Snedigar and Cheryl Cameron
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:8
    Content type: Research Published on:

  9. A new pedagogical methodology is proposed to reduce the social vulnerability of indigenous communities occupying areas subject to volcanic activity, as a potential interactive approach between those communitie...

    Authors: Natalia Pardo, Hildalene Wilson, Jonathan N Procter, Erica Lattughi and Taiarahia Black
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:5
    Content type: Research Published on:

  10. Understanding how communities are vulnerable to lahar hazards provides critical input for effective design and implementation of volcano hazard preparedness and mitigation strategies. Past vulnerability assess...

    Authors: Angela K Diefenbach, Nathan J Wood and John W Ewert
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:4
    Content type: Research Published on:

  11. Since March 2008, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has operated a Volcanic Ash Fall Forecast (VAFF) system to issue forecasts of areas in Japan where ash falls are expected following volcanic eruptions. T...

    Authors: Yoshihiko Hasegawa, Akira Sugai, Yosuke Hayashi, Yuta Hayashi, Shoji Saito and Toshiki Shimbori
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:2
    Content type: Research Published on:

  12. Contemporary approaches to multi-organisational response planning for the management of complex volcanic crises assume that identifying the types of expertise needed provides the foundation for effective respo...

    Authors: Emma E H Doyle, Douglas Paton and David M Johnston
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2015 4:1
    Content type: Research Published on:

  13. Eruption forecasting is a major goal in volcanology. Logically, but unfortunately, forecasting hazards related to non-magmatic unrest is too often overshadowed by eruption forecasting, although many volcanoes ...

    Authors: Dmitri Rouwet, Laura Sandri, Warner Marzocchi, Joachim Gottsmann, Jacopo Selva, Roberto Tonini and Paolo Papale
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014 3:17
    Content type: Research Published on:

  16. The communication of scientific information to stakeholders is a critical component of an effective Volcano Early Warning System. Volcanic Alert Level (VAL) systems are used in many countries as a tool within ...

    Authors: Sally H Potter, Gill E Jolly, Vincent E Neall, David M Johnston and Bradley J Scott
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014 3:13
    Content type: Research Published on:

  17. Unrest at the Greek volcanic island of Santorini in 2011–2012 was a cause for unease for some governments, concerned about risks to their nationals on this popular holiday island if an eruption took place. In ...

    Authors: Willy P Aspinall and Gordon Woo
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014 3:12
    Content type: Research Published on:

  18. Since 2000, a network of volunteers known as vigías has been engaged in community-based volcano monitoring, which involves local citizens in the collection of scientific data, around volcán Tungurahua, Ecuador. T...

    Authors: Jonathan Stone, Jenni Barclay, Peter Simmons, Paul D Cole, Susan C Loughlin, Patricio Ramón and Patricia Mothes
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014 3:11
    Content type: Research Published on:

  19. Volcanic ashfall can be damaging and disruptive to critical infrastructure including electricity generation, transmission and distribution networks, drinking-water and wastewater treatment plants, roads, airpo...

    Authors: Thomas M Wilson, Carol Stewart, Johnny B Wardman, Grant Wilson, David M Johnston, Daniel Hill, Samuel J Hampton, Marlene Villemure, Sara McBride, Graham Leonard, Michele Daly, Natalia Deligne and Lisa Roberts
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014 3:10
    Content type: Research Published on:

  20. Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand (pop. 1.5 million) and is situated atop an active monogenetic volcanic field. When volcanic activity next occurs, the most effective means of protecting the people w...

    Authors: Erik Tomsen, Jan M Lindsay, Mark Gahegan, Thomas M Wilson and Daniel M Blake
    Citation: Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014 3:6
    Content type: Research Published on: