scholarly journals Instituto Geofísico – Escuela Politécnica Nacional, the Ecuadorian Seismology and Volcanology Service

Volcanica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (S1) ◽  
pp. 93-112
Author(s):  
Patricio Ramon ◽  
Silvia Vallejo ◽  
Daniel Andrade ◽  
Francisco Vásconez ◽  
Hugo Yepes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Hazard ◽  
Communication Channels ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Volcanic Hazards ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Hazard Maps ◽  
Redes Sociales

Ninety-eight Quaternary volcanoes have been identified in the Ecuadorian Andes and the Galápagos Islands, from them, nine experienced at least one eruption in the last twenty years. Additionally, about 35 % of the Ecuadorian population live in areas that could be affected by future volcanic eruptions. The Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN) monitors and evaluates Ecuador’s volcanic hazards: nineteen volcanic hazard maps and hundreds of related articles have been published as a result of its research. The monitoring networks include eighteen volcanoes, with more than 266 stations, which also form the basis for early warning systems at several volcanoes. Volcanic activity is widely communicated by the IG-EPN through periodic information published in different media (website and social networks). Ecuadorian volcanoes will erupt in the future and, therefore, the IGEPN continuously updates its monitoring and hazard assessment practices and improves communication channels and protocols to successfully fulfil its responsibilities. Noventa y ocho volcanes cuaternarios han sido identificados en los Andes ecuatorianos y Galápagos de los cuales nueve han experimentado erupciones al menos una vez en los últimos veinte años. Adicionalmente, alrededor del 35 % de la población ecuatoriana vive en zonas que podrían ser afectadas durante futuras erupciones. El Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN) monitorea y evalúa la amenaza volcánica del país y, como resultado de sus investigaciones, diecinueve mapas de amenaza volcánica y centenares de artículos científicos han sido publicados. Las redes de vigilancia comprenden dieciocho volcanes e incluyen más de 266 estaciones, que son parte también de los sistemas de alerta temprana. La actividad volcánica es comunicada amplia y periódicamente por el IG-EPN a través diferentes medios (página web y redes sociales). Comprendiendo que futuras erupciones ocurrirán en Ecuador, el IG-EPN continúa actualizando sus prácticas de vigilancia y evaluación de la amenaza, y mejorando sus protocolos de comunicación para cumplir exitosamente sus responsabilidades.

Disaster Scenarios

2030 ◽  
2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rutger van Santen ◽  
Djan Khoe ◽  
Bram Vermeer
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Tidal Waves ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Chinese Coast ◽  
The University

A hurricane striking the Chinese coast is ten times as lethal as one hitting the United States. The number of U.S. victims is limited because of better precautions, warning systems, and evacuation methods. More effective observation and communication can save lives. A century ago, hurricanes killed around 7,000 Americans every year, whereas nowadays there are only very few hurricanes of the lethality of Katrina. That progress has yet to reach every corner of Earth, says Guus Berkhout regretfully. This Dutch geophysicist has immersed himself in the mechanisms of disasters and disaster prevention since the beginning of his scientific career—first as professor of seismic imaging and later as professor of innovation at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. We talked to him at the university campus that lies 3 meters below sea level. At his laboratory, Berkhout analyzes the early warning systems and contingency plans that will be needed to protect both his lab and his compatriots. “We can’t stop earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, or tidal waves from happening,” he stresses. “And we may never be able to predict hurricanes or earthquakes with sufficient accuracy. Nor can we hope to prevent people from living in dangerous places. They are simply too attractive.” Human beings indeed seem addicted to living on the edge of catastrophe. The World Bank has calculated that a fifth of all countries are under permanent threat of natural disaster, with some 3.4 billion people—roughly half the world’s population—at heightened risk of being killed by one. Yet unsafe regions are often exceptionally popular places to live and work, one reason being that floodplains and the slopes of volcanoes are highly fertile. The climate is milder along the coast, the soil better, and transport more efficient than farther inland. Even the likelihood of earthquakes isn’t enough to persuade people to live elsewhere, as witnessed by some of the most densely populated areas of California and Japan. Current migration trends—moving to where the action is—suggest that the proportion of people living in unsafe areas will only increase.

scholarly journals Fluoride in ash leachates: environmental implications at Popocatépetl volcano, central Mexico

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1949-1956 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Armienta ◽  
S. De la Cruz-Reyna ◽  
O. Cruz ◽  
N. Ceniceros ◽  
A. Aguayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Hazard ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Central Mexico ◽  
Hazard Maps ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Popocatépetl Volcano ◽  
Recent Activity ◽  
Popocatepetl Volcano ◽  
Moderate Magnitude

Abstract. Ash emitted by volcanic eruptions, even of moderate magnitude, may affect the environment and the health of humans and animals through different mechanisms at distances significantly larger than those indicated in the volcanic hazard maps. One such mechanism is the high capacity of ash to transport toxic volatiles like fluoride, as soluble condensates on the particles' surface. The mobilization and hazards related to volcanic fluoride are discussed based on the data obtained during the recent activity of Popocatépetl volcano in Central Mexico.

scholarly journals Brief communication: Appropriate messaging is critical for effective earthquake early warning systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Xue Qiao ◽  
Barnabas C. Seyler ◽  
Baofeng Di ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning ◽  
Communication Channels ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Earthquake Early Warning ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
The Public ◽  
Earthquake Early Warning Systems ◽  
Great Progress ◽  
And Training

Abstract. The earthquake early warning systems (EEWSs) in China have achieved great progress, with warning alerts being successfully delivered to the public in some regions. We examined the performance of the EEWS in China's Sichuan Province during the 2019 Changning Earthquake. Although its technical effectiveness was tested with the first alert released 10 s after the earthquake, we found that a big gap existed between the EEWS's message and the public's response. We highlight the importance of EEWS alert effectiveness and public participation for long-term resiliency, such as delivering useful alert messages through appropriate communication channels and training people to understand and properly respond.

scholarly journals Benchmarking an operational procedure for rapid risk assessment in Europe

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Dottori ◽  
Milan Kalas ◽  
Peter Salamon ◽  
Alessandra Bianchi ◽  
Lorenzo Alfieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Flood Hazard ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Hazard Maps ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Operational Procedure ◽  
Flood Hazard Maps

Abstract. The development of methods for rapid flood mapping and risk assessment is a key step to increase the usefulness of flood early warning systems, and is crucial for effective emergency response and flood impact mitigation. Currently, flood early warning systems rarely include real–time components to assess potential impacts generated by forecasted flood events. To overcome this limitation, this work describes the benchmarking of an operational procedure for rapid flood risk assessment based on predictions issued by the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS). Daily streamflow forecasts produced for major European river networks are translated into event-based flood hazard maps using a large map catalogue derived from high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations. Flood hazard maps are then combined with exposure and vulnerability information, and the impacts of the forecasted flood events are evaluated in terms of flood prone areas, economic damage and affected population, infrastructures and cities. An extensive testing of the operational procedure is carried out by analysing the catastrophic floods of May 2014 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The reliability of the flood mapping methodology is tested against satellite-based and report-based flood extent data, while ground-based estimations of economic damage and affected population are compared against modelled estimates. Finally, we evaluate the skill of risk estimates derived from EFAS flood forecasts with different lead times and combinations of probabilistic forecasts. Results show the potential of the real-time operational procedure in helping emergency response and management.

scholarly journals An operational procedure for rapid flood risk assessment in Europe

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 1111-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Dottori ◽  
Milan Kalas ◽  
Peter Salamon ◽  
Alessandra Bianchi ◽  
Lorenzo Alfieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Flood Hazard ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Flood Risk Assessment ◽  
Hazard Maps ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Operational Procedure

Abstract. The development of methods for rapid flood mapping and risk assessment is a key step to increase the usefulness of flood early warning systems and is crucial for effective emergency response and flood impact mitigation. Currently, flood early warning systems rarely include real-time components to assess potential impacts generated by forecasted flood events. To overcome this limitation, this study describes the benchmarking of an operational procedure for rapid flood risk assessment based on predictions issued by the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS). Daily streamflow forecasts produced for major European river networks are translated into event-based flood hazard maps using a large map catalogue derived from high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations. Flood hazard maps are then combined with exposure and vulnerability information, and the impacts of the forecasted flood events are evaluated in terms of flood-prone areas, economic damage and affected population, infrastructures and cities.An extensive testing of the operational procedure has been carried out by analysing the catastrophic floods of May 2014 in Bosnia–Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The reliability of the flood mapping methodology is tested against satellite-based and report-based flood extent data, while modelled estimates of economic damage and affected population are compared against ground-based estimations. Finally, we evaluate the skill of risk estimates derived from EFAS flood forecasts with different lead times and combinations of probabilistic forecasts. Results highlight the potential of the real-time operational procedure in helping emergency response and management.

scholarly journals Editorial for Special Issue “Convective and Volcanic Clouds (CVC)”

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 2080
Author(s):  
Riccardo Biondi ◽  
Stefano Corradini
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Extratropical Cyclones ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Southeastern Europe ◽  
Volcanic Clouds ◽  
Traffic Control System ◽  
Aviation Operations

In recent years, some volcanic eruptions have focused scientists’ attention on the detection and monitoring of volcanic clouds, as their impact on the air traffic control system has been unprecedented. In 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption forced the disruption of the airspace of several countries, generating one of the largest air traffic shutdowns ever. Extreme convective events cause many deaths and injuries, and much damage to property every year, accounting for major economic damages related to natural disasters in several countries. Due to global warming, Atlantic tropical cyclones have increased their maximum intensity, hurricanes have more often become extratropical cyclones affecting northern Europe, and southeastern Europe is characterized by increasing annual stormy days. Convective and Volcanic Clouds (CVC) are very dangerous for aviation operations, as they can affect aircraft safety and economic, political, and cultural activities. The detection, nowcasting, and monitoring of CVC is therefore vital for organizing efficient early warning systems.

The CARE Telematics Network for the Surveillance of Influenza in Europe

1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (05) ◽  
pp. 518-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bensadon ◽  
A. Strauss ◽  
R. Snacken
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Surveillance Networks ◽  
Spanish Flu ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
National Networks ◽  
First Time

Abstract:Since the 1950s, national networks for the surveillance of influenza have been progressively implemented in several countries. New epidemiological arguments have triggered changes in order to increase the sensitivity of existent early warning systems and to strengthen the communications between European networks. The WHO project CARE Telematics, which collects clinical and virological data of nine national networks and sends useful information to public health administrations, is presented. From the results of the 1993-94 season, the benefits of the system are discussed. Though other telematics networks in this field already exist, it is the first time that virological data, absolutely essential for characterizing the type of an outbreak, are timely available by other countries. This argument will be decisive in case of occurrence of a new strain of virus (shift), such as the Spanish flu in 1918. Priorities are now to include other existing European surveillance networks.

Assessment of Food Security Early Warning Systems for East and Southern Africa

10.1596/29269 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademola Braimoh ◽  
Bernard Manyena ◽  
Grace Obuya ◽  
Francis Muraya
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Warning Systems
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document