IAVWOPSG/3-WP/30
International Civil Aviation Organization
5/02/07
WORKING PAPER
INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP
(IAVWOPSG)
THIRD MEETING
Bangkok, Thailand, 19 to 23 March 2007
Agenda Item 5: Operation of the IAVWOPSG
5.1: Implementation of the IAVW, including the IAVW Management Report
INTRODUCTION OF THE TEMPLATE FOR INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY VOLCANO OBSERVATORIES
(Presented by Australia and IUGG)
SUMMARY
This paper proposes that an ad-hoc working group be tasked to oversee the
effective introduction of the template for the provision of information from the
volcano observatories, and to educate the observatories about the costrecovery mechanism for provision of eruption information to aviation.
1.
INTRODUCTION
The anticipated introduction of a template for communicating information provided by volcano
observatories will significantly benefit the IAVW. This paper considers what special measures may be
necessary to implement the template most effectively.
2.
DISCUSSION
2.1
Volcano observatories in the world are loosely organised under the banner of the World
Organisation of Volcano Observatories (WOVO), a commission of the International Association of
Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI), which is in turn a member of the IUGG.
Much, or most, inter-observatory communication is done on an informal basis. Many observatories have
little or no interactions with meteorological or aviation authorities at present, and almost no observatories
could be expected to have a good understanding of ICAO and WMO structures and jargon. It should be
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considered therefore, that special measures may be necessary to aid the widespread uptake of the
template.
2.2
In that context, the group may wish to note with appreciation the attendance by an ICAO
representative at the Cities on Volcanoes 4 conference in Quito, Ecuador, in January 2006, and also at a
WOVO meeting held at that conference. The minutes of that meeting are attached.
2.3
The group may also wish to note that at that WOVO meeting, the IAVWOPSG members
from the IUGG and Australia were asked to keep WOVO members informed about the progress of the
cost recovery mechanism for volcanic observations. The group may agree that it will be generally useful
to present information on this matter together with information about the recommended reporting
template.
2.4
As discussed in the attached minutes, a WOVO workshop entitled ““Non-localised
volcanic hazards - Inter-agency and international communications” is planned for the IUGG 2007
meeting in Perugia, Italy, in July. The focus of the workshop is on aviation-related and other nonlocalised volcanic hazards. The meeting may wish to agree that participation in this workshop should be
considered desirable for any IAVW participants who are able to attend and present information about the
IAVW.
2.5
In the context of that workshop and in general communication to WOVO members, it
may be useful for clear educational material on the cost-recovery mechanism and the reporting template,
in one or more languages, to be developed by the Secretariat in collaboration with the member for the
IUGG and other interested parties. This same group could assess the need for any further measures
necessary to implement the template. A suggested conclusion is given below.
Conclusion 3/.. — Introduction of the volcanic reporting template
That an ad-hoc working group with participation of the Secretariat and
members from the IUGG, Australia, and …… be tasked to:
a) develop and distribute educational material about the reporting
template and about aviation cost-recovery mechanisms to
volcano observatories;
b) undertake any other measures considered necessary to promote
the rapid uptake of the reporting template; and
c)
prepare a report in time for consideration by the IAVWOPSG/4
Meeting.
2.6
To assess the degree of uptake of the form, it may be necessary for VAACs to report in their
management reports on the use of the form by observatories in their region. A suggested conclusion is
also given below.
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Conclusion 3/.. — inclusion of information about volcanic
reporting in the VAAC Management Reports
That the VAAC Provider States be tasked to include information about
the receipt of information from relevant volcano observatories,
including the format of the information received, in their management
reports for IAVWOPSG/4 Meeting.
3.
3.1
ACTION BY THE IAVWOPSG
The IAVWOPSG is invited to:
a) note the information in this paper; and
b) decide on the draft conclusions proposed for the group’s consideration.
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Appendix A
APPENDIX A
REPORT OF THE WORLD ORGANIZATION OF VOLCANO
OBSERVATORIES (WOVO) MEETING
Tuesday 24 January, 2006, 7:00pm, Hotel Quito, Quito, Ecuador
(during the Cities on Volcanoes 4 conference)
Attendance:
Brad Scott, Steve Malone, Robert Tilling, Juan Jose Ramirez, Silvia Ramos H., Maurilio Breton, Victor
Aguilar, Amanda R. Leonard, Peter Webley, Nigel Gait, Chris Newhall,
Orlando Macedo, Minard L. Hall, Rosalind Helz, Randall White, Catherine Hichson, Marco Rivera, Peter
Dunkley, Steven Hosford, Malaika Ulmi, Graham Leonard, Jersy Marino, Vicentina Cruz, Lourdes
Cacya, Erouscilla Joseph, Raul Romero, Angel Gomez, Elisabeth Head, Augusto Neri, Shinji Takarada,
Mauro Coltelli, Marianne Guffanti, John Ewert, Andrew Tupper, Glen Mattioli, Warner Marzocchi.
(note: some WOVO members later apologised that they had been unable to find the meeting)
Opening remarks:
Warner Marzocchi, Andrew Tupper and Glen Mattioli welcomed all present to the meeting, and explained
that as the new WOVO co-leaders, they were looking for advice and discussion about the direction and
immediate priorities of WOVO over the next few years. There had been no formal agenda formulated for
the meeting, but the co-leaders had prepared a draft ‘task and talking points list’ that was used as a basis
for discussion.
WOVO tasks
1- Structural issues
a. Protocols for sharing data between observatories and other agencies. The co-leaders felt
that there was room for development of sample protocols for adoption by agencies that
share data on volcanoes, either routinely, or during a volcanic crisis. The protocols would
relate to how the data can be used; the idea of the protocols would be to encourage the
exchange of information, with all parties being aware of their restrictions and
responsibilities for use of the data.
b. Procedures for support or otherwise of funding proposals. WOVO could develop
internal protocols to allow endorsement (not monetary support) or otherwise of funding
proposals to other organisations, eg:
i. WOVO receives a request for a letter of support
ii. The proposal is circulated to affected members for feedback
iii. Consensus is reached before WOVO replies
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A-2
Appendix A
c. External communication
i. The WOVO co-leaders have had discussions on updating the WOVO web page
at www.wovo.org; we expect to progress this very soon.
ii. We will update the mailing list, and the web page addresses given in the WOVO
directory. Observatories will also be asked if they wish to specify an information
officer to handle queries, rather than routing all E-mails to the director.
iii. We would like to include on the web page technical information, or links to
technical information, about standard volcanic monitoring instruments and their
set up (both hardware and software). This would function as a basic resource for
observatories that may have difficulty accessing such information.
d. Internal communication
i. There was some discussion at the meeting about communications within WOVO.
It was pointed out that a mailing list had been set up previously by Chris
Newhall, but had been barely used and then had vanished during the transfer of
leadership. We will re-launch a mailing list as a matter or urgency.
ii. Examples were discussed of things that WOVO could distribute that are relevant
to all observatories. One example given was that the International Civil Aviation
Organisation has created a cost recovery mechanism reimburse some
communications costs to observatories who have been asked to provide eruption
information to the aviation/meteorological community (Marianne Guffanti &
Andrew Tupper will follow this up).
e. External/Internal communications: co-ordinate student placements at observatories. It
was suggested that WOVO could provide a useful service by creating a system where
students looking for placements could use the WOVO web site to seek opportunities.
Several ways to do this were discussed and we will discuss it further.
2- Projects
a. Publicise existing collaborations – WOVO could compile a list of projects between
members. For example, there are several countries collaborating with the Government of
Indonesia; yet, many of the international organizations are not necessarily aware of what
the other is doing – WOVO would be a great vehicle for better co-ordination and coordination.
b. WOVOdat.
There
was
considerable
discussion
on
WOVOdat
(http://www.wovo.org/WOVOdat/index.htm). Chris Newhall indicated that he is very
keen to keep pursuing the project and will welcome input. At the moment he is
considering where the project will be hosted.
c. New funding proposals. Warner Marzocchi suggested a scheme for supporting scientists
from observatories from developing countries to visit other observatories (UNESCO is a
possible source of money).
d. Colour codes / Alert levels. We believe that it would be useful to expand the WOVO
directory pages, by adding the alert level schemes applicable to each volcano or country.
e. Hazard maps. Similarly, it would be useful to add volcanic hazard maps and/or web
links to those maps
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A-3
f.
Appendix A
Bibliography. We intend to start compiling, and making available where possible, a list of
material particularly relevant for WOVO members; for example papers on basic
monitoring techniques, or protocols that have already been developed.
3- IUGG 2007
a. The next WOVO meeting will be at the IUGG 2007 meeting in Perugia, Italy, in July
2007.
b. At that meeting, we are also planning to hold a workshop entitled “Non-localised
volcanic hazards - Inter-agency and international communications.”
c. The description of the workshop as currently drafted is: “Natural hazard mitigation has
increasingly globalised over the past few years. This workshop will consider the role and
status of volcanic observatories as the 'official' warning source for non-localised,
international volcanic hazards, particularly drifting volcanic ash clouds and volcanic
tsunami. The information needs of the International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW) will
be discussed in detail, along with the potential opportunities afforded by pooling the
remote sensing, communications and funding capacities of IAVW members. Our
discussion will centre on strategies to use these opportunities to enhance volcanic
monitoring and to co-ordinate the 'official' information from observatories to
international organisations and to the media. Speakers will be invited to present the
viewpoints of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and other United Nations
agencies, and volcanic observatories will be encouraged to share their own positive and
negative experiences, and their ideas for the future. Length: (1/2 day? 1 day?).
d. At the moment, the workshop is in the early planning stages and input is very welcome
(to Andrew Tupper: A.Tupper@bom.gov.au). For example, does any observatory
actually have a system for tsunami warning? What about for the effects of pyroclastic
flows on international shipping? What other international or inter-agency issues could we
discuss?
The WOVO meeting closed at 9 pm. We would like to express our great appreciation to the attendees for
coming to the meeting during a very busy conference.
Glen Mattioli, Warner Marzocchi, & Andrew Tupper
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