Volcanic Risk Reduction
The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) and The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommend three fundamental ideas to contribute to volcanic risk reduction.
The first ones are scientific-technical and the last one is incumbent on Civil Protection, that is at the same time the final user of first actions results. Several actions are framed in it, such as:
- Development of volcanic danger maps. These maps are very useful to zone a territory depending on the volcanic risk and to carry out a better planning of the area (for example, to avoid the construction of long-period infrastructures like hospitals, motorways, harbours, airports, etc. in high volcanic risk zones).
- Development of emergency plans. the aim of Emergency plans is to make the population aware of the volcanic phenomenon, so that the lost of human life during volcanic eruptions can be minimized.
- Establishment of a Multidisciplinary volcanic watch program. This kind of programs helps to improve the system of early-alert signals in volcanic phenomena. And it has to be characterized by a geophysical, geochemical and geodesic monitoring of the volcanic activity.
Geochemical program for the volcanic watch in the Canary islands, that means the sampling in continuous mode (CO2 and H2S diffuse emission and the chemical and isotopic composition of diluted gases in subterranean waters) and in discreet mode (visible signs of volcanic gases, diluted gases in subterranean waters, hydro geochemistry).
In this investigation guideline, ITER Environmental division is centred especially in the carrying out of the second action recommended by IAVCEI and UNESCO. Volcanic Surveillance in the Canary Islands hasn’t at its disposal a multi-educational approach until 1997, but ITER has contributed to give this necessary approach for the volcanic surveillance with the support of the Cabildo of Tenerife, La Palma, and El Hierro.
Works related to this research guideline are being carried out not only in the Canary Islands but in Japan, Papua New Guinea, Cape Verde, Italy, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Azores.