FIEL-Volcan
Initial Meeting
August 15, 2009
Minute
Background
On August 12, 2009 at 12:50:32 the last signature of the project “Observaciones de
campo, instrumentales, y estudios experimentales aplicados a prevenir desastres
volcánicos: desarrollo de instrumentos y métodos novedosos para el estudio de la
actividad volcánica” also known as “FIEL-VOLCAN” was made and so, the project was
officially starting on August 13, 2009.
Previous to this date, a meeting was scheduled to be held in Heidelberg, Germany at
the Institut für Umweltphysik, Ruprecht Karls Universität from August 14 to 15, 2009.
These dates were scheduled as being the best for every member of the Consortium.
Last-minute problems made Gabriel Reyes Dávila and Salvatore Inguaggiato,
representatives of the Universidad de Colima (UCOL) and Istituto Nazionale di
Geofisica e Vulcanologia – Palermo (INGV-P) respectively, unable to participate.
On August 14, 2009, Hugo Delgado Granados, representative of the Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and Coordinator of the Consortium met
individually Bo Galle, representative of Chalmers Tekniska Högskola (UCH); Donald B.
Dingwell, representative of Ludwig Maximilians Universität – München (LMU),
assisted by Miguel A. Alatorre Ibargüengoitia; Jacopo Taddeucci, representative of
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia – Roma (INGV-R) and Ulrich Platt,
representative of Ruprecht Karls Universität (UHEI), assisted by Christoph Kern and
Leif Voguel. After the individual meetings, the members of the Consortium took dinner
as part of the kick off activities.
During these meetings, every member of the Consortium discussed together with the
Coordinator the details of their respective work packages, paying particular attention
to the objectives and goals mentioned in the original proposal and the feasibility to get
them accomplished. Also, individual administrative issues were revised. For instance,
$23,509.00 MXP (Mexican pesos) in work package 12 were allocated by mistake to
UHEI but this work package is under the responsibility of UCH so, both groups agreed
in the budget move.
It is worth mentioning that on July 20, 2009 in Milo, Sicily, Hugo Delgado Granados
(UNAM) and Salvatore Inguggiato (INGV-P), together with Nicole Bobrowski (UHEI)
had a similar meeting for discussion on the objectives and goals of the work package
INGV-P is involved in for the project.
FIEL-Volcan
Agenda for the August 15, 2009 kick off meeting
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Plenary meeting of the Consortium
Establishing the executive Board
Objectives and goals of the project
General administrative issues
General discussion (questions and answers)
Erasmus Mundus
Conclusions
A. Plenary meeting of the Consortium.
The session started at 10:00 hrs at the meeting room of the Institut für Umweltphysik,
Ruprecht Karls Universität. Participants in this meeting: Bo Galle, Ulrich Platt,
Chirstopher Kern, Leif Voguel, Johannes Zielcke, Donald B. Dingwell, Miguel A.
Alatorre, Jacopo Tadeucci, and Hugo Delgado Granados.
B. Establishing the Executive Board.
“The Executive Board is the entity of the Consortium entitled for making decisions,
which consists of a representative from each of the Parties of this Consortium”.
For the FIEL-VOLCAN Consortium, representatives of the seven participating
institutions will compose the Executive Board as follows (mentioned according to the
number of registered institution before FONCICyT):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Hugo Delgado Granados (Coordinator), UNAM.
Gabriel Reyes Dávila, UCOL.
Bo Galle, UHC.
Ulrich Platt, UHEI.
Donald B. Dingwell, LMU.
Salvatore Inguaggiato, INGV-P
Jacopo Tadeucci, INGV-R.
Every institution agreed on this list of members to constitute the Executive Board.
Besides, the Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED) and Protección
Civil del Estado de Jalisco (PCEJ) are part of the Consortium as affiliated entities.
C. Objectives and goals of the project
Hugo Delgado Granados made a brief introduction of the project:
FIEL-Volcan
The overall objective of this project is to better understand volcanic processes
combining instrumental and methodological development for the observation of
volcanic phenomena, fieldwork, laboratory experiments and monitoring data to
identify active volcanoes eruptive patterns for taking appropriate decisions in the case
volcanic contingency. This creates a consortium of scientific institutions and volcano
observatories.
In the original proposal, this general objective includes the following goals:
1)
Development of hardware and software for the NOVAC instrument. Software
and hardware will be developed to improve the data output from the NOVAC
instrument in order to allow correlations with other geophysical data, e.g.
seismic data, extending the information available for the evaluation of volcanic
risk in real time and research.
2)
Extending the NOVAC network. This project will make new and additional
facilities, implementing them with NOVAC routines.
3)
Implementation of temporary facilities NOVAC. NOVAC instruments are
designed primarily for fixed installations and stationary. However, UCH is
currently developing a portable version of the instrument, intended for
temporary installations. A system must be available for rapid deployment on
new sites, typically consisting of 3 instruments, packed in boxes, for example for
a field campaign to test sites in relation to a new facility or a volcanic crisis.
These instruments will be available on this project for example in connection
with a field campaign.
4)
Implementing long path FTIR spectroscopy: absorption spectroscopy using the
average concentration over the course of measurement of SO2, HCl, HF, CO2,
H2O, CO, CH4, among others, can be determined with a high resolution of
sensitivity, accuracy and time on the volcanoes that are deemed useful.
5)
Application of solar FTIR spectroscopy. Spectra are taken from the sun seen
through the cloud and simultaneous measurements derive total columns of SO2,
HCl and HF. HCl/SO2 ratios and yield information HF/SO2 geochemical and
geophysical state of the volcano. It will develop a robust non-LN2 solar FTIR,
low power consumption for stationary use, semiautomatic with application to
studies of volcanic gas emissions.
6)
Modeling weather, cloud chemistry and environmental impact. Under the
DORSIVA project, UCH developed a system of meteorological model that
considers the topography around a volcano. Bringing together a dispersion
model to meteorological model, may be carried out studies of cloud chemistry
and environmental impact assessment and assessing volcanic hazards and
predict the environmental impact related to a volcanic crisis. It will implement
the meteorological and dispersion models in the volcanoes Popocatépetl and
FIEL-Volcan
Colima Fire and validated the models using existing instruments and NOVAC
temporarily deployed.
7)
Construction of an SO2 Camera. The SO2 camera will allow to study details of the
dynamics of gas clouds, particularly the temporal resolution of this instrument
is superior to any spectroscopic instrument. Also the wind speed in the cloud
can be determined easily, allowing the algorithms to improve the determination
of wind speed of the NOVAC spectrometers. Radiative transfer effects can be
studied in and around the volcanic clouds. Currently, the SO2 camera technology
still needs to be evaluated and tested in the field. This is a step towards routine
deployment of SO2 cameras at volcanoes.
8)
Implementing shortwave IR (SW-IR) spectroscopy. UHEI is currently
developing mini-DOAS spectrometers for the near IR between 1 mm and 1.7
mm, the so-called "shortwave IR". This MAX-DOAS-style of measurements of
volcanic gases like CO2, CH4, and H2S seem possible. It will explore the use of
new technology from SW-IR in the Mexican volcanoes.
9)
Development and implementation of an "Imaging-DOAS”. Measurements were
made with the "Imaging-DOAS" on the volcanoes Popocatepetl and VFC to
obtain spectra of the cloud of volcanic gases. It will provide valuable data for
research geochemistry and geophysics of the volcano and the surrounding
atmosphere, data on NO2, HCHO, C2H2O2, H2O, O4, SO2 and BrO could be
combined with SO2 emission rates obtained with the NOVAC instruments to
obtain emission rates of different compounds, useful data on environmental
impact studies and global assessments of gases.
10)
Measurements in the Mexican volcanoes to acquire complete spectra to identify
and quantify "new" molecules such as CS2, OClO, and so on. Halogen data and
the surrounding atmosphere will be produced and can be combined with
emission data from the NOVAC instruments to obtain total emission rates for
different compounds, this will be useful data on environmental impact studies
and global assessment of gases.
11)
Experiments of fragmentation and deformation of Popocatépetl volcano
samples and relate the results to the observations of the monitoring.
12)
Experiments with samples of Xitle volcano and relate the results with field
observations and monitoring of active basaltic volcanoes (Stromboli and Etna)
to establish eruptive scenarios that could occur in case of emergence of a new
volcano in the Chichinautzin Volcanic Field.
13)
Geophysical Monitoring of volcanoes (volcanic seismology). It includes the
research-related magmatic systems and related eruptive processes. It will study
the volcanoes Popocatépetl and VFC seismic techniques and computer
modeling, incorporating information from other geophysical techniques for
FIEL-Volcan
volcano monitoring, as deformation, gas measurements, geology, eruptive
history, petrology, etc. The goal is to have a quantitative understanding of each
of the volcanoes of Mexico and contribute to the implementation of preventive
measures and improved surveillance systems to prevent and avoid volcanic
disasters.
14)
Geophysical Monitoring of volcanoes (volcanic deformation). Data provided by a
network of stations will detect changes in stress state continuously, which can
be used both as precursors of greater volcanic activity to have a better
understanding of magmatic processes operating at depth.
15)
Geochemical and isotopic analyses of samples from the volcanoes Popocatépetl
and Xitle. Samples from the Popocatépetl eruptive products (lava, ash and
pumice) and Xitle (lava, slag and ash) will be analyzed.
These goals are the essence of the work packages of the project. Every member of the
Consortium explained the particular enrollment in the work packages:
Bo Galle explained the participation of UCH in the goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Regarding
goal 3 the use of this kind of instruments needs to be revised, although they might be
of use in Mexico only and not anywhere else.
Ulrich Platt, with the help of Christoph Kern and Leif Voguel explained the way the
goals 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9. Explained a range of possibilities to solve the goal 7 and 8.
Salvatore Inguaggiato did not participate in this meeting personally, but sent a
PowerPoint presentation that was introduced by Hugo Delgado Granados and
explained by Christoph Kern, Leif Voguel and Ulrich Platt. The enrollment of INGV-P is
in goals 8 and 9, which will be tackled together with UHEI by applying the
Whiskbroom imaging technique.
Donald B. Dinwell explained the experiments that are currently being performed at
LMU. The interests of the LMU group are wide and deep. Of particular interest is the
measurement of halogens in volcanic plumes. An interesting discussion on the
production of BrO from volcanic ashes was held and the possibilities to carry out
experiments in this line of research remained open as well as other possibilities of
measuring gases and carrying out explosive experiments using gases similar to those
in volcanic environments (SO2 for instance). Within the scope of FIEL-VOLCAN, LMU
will be enrolled in goal 11 and 12.
Jacopo Tadeucci explained his interest in working on the textural study of fragmented
material from Xitle and Popocatépetl volcanoes. Enrollment of INGV-R is in goals 12
and 15, the textural studies would be performed by using an FE-SEM, high pressure,
high temperature experiments with samples from Xitle could be carried out together
with people at LMU (Corrado), a possibility that remains to be explored.
FIEL-Volcan
D. General administrative issues
Slides with information from FONCICyT were presented to the Executive Board.
Particular attention was put on issues such as the possibility to move 15% of a
particular type of expense to another without previous authorization of FONCICyT.
Mention on eligible costs and non-eligible costs, was also made.
The Executive Board accepted the budget and activities of the Consortium were
declared as started.
E. General discussion (questions and answers)
The Coordinator sent an Excel file containing the particular budget per institution to
every member of the Executive Board together with a summary of the budget per
work package. Seemed that not everybody received the files so re-sending of the files
was requested.
Bo Galle proposed to the members of the Executive Board to carry out fieldwork in
Mexico all, at the same time. This way, the resources would be more efficiently used
and, more importantly, it will be a great opportunity to have interchange of ideas in
the field and help each other during the fieldwork and share information and
resources. The proposed dates were: April 2010 for the first field campaign and
January-February 2011 for the second campaign.
Several questions raised:
Overhead should be part of the 7%?
Bills and invoices should be sent to Mexico?
Travel expenses according to EU standards?
Some of these questions were not answered properly at that moment but will be
answered afterwards when the Coordinator asks to the FONCICyT officials.
In order to answer these questions, another meeting would be necessary but through
a videoconference. The way to do it and the date was a matter that the Coordinator
should seek and inform the Executive board in the following weeks. The meeting
should be held at 8:00 hrs Mexican time in order to have the presence of most of the
EU members of the Executive Committee at 15:00 hrs (Europe time).
F. Erasmus Mundus
The Coordinator mentioned the possibility to enhance the work of the project with the
FIEL-Volcan
participation of students under the umbrella of another project in order to recruit
students from Mexico and other parts of Latin America and Europe. Details on this
line remained pending to be asked.
G. Conclusions
In spite of budget constrains, the Executive Board considered that the goals proposed
are still reachable but adjustments in the budget and programming of activities should
be done. The reorganization of tboth should be studied and sent in the following
weeks to the Coordinator.
The meeting was declared finished at 15:00 hrs.