Ethiopian volcanic hazards: a changing research landscape

Abstract

Collaborative research projects have a significant role in filling the knowledge gaps that are obstacles to the rigorous assessment of volcanic hazards in some locations. Research is essential to generate the evidence on which raising awareness of volcanic hazards, monitoring and early warning systems, risk reduction activities and efforts to increase resilience can be built. We report the current state of volcanic hazards research and practice in Ethiopia and on the collaborative process used in the Afar Rift Consortium project to promote awareness of volcanic hazards. Effective dissemination of findings to stakeholders and the integration of results in existing practice needs: leadership by in-country researchers, effective long-term collaboration with other researchers (e.g. international groups) and operational scientists, in addition to integration with existing programmes related to disaster risk reduction initiatives.There is an increasing need for the science-based characterisation of natural hazards to support risk assessment and disaster risk management (DRM) programmes (Alcántara-Ayala et al. 2015; United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015a). This need exists at local, national and global levels and requires the engagement of individuals, communities, governments and international agencies (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015b). Ensuring that externally funded scientific research plays an effective and timely role in DRM at all levels requires collaboration with in-country scientists (Paton et al. 2008;Mercer et al. 2010). It also requires the generation and application of a variety of tools and products that meet the needs and expectations of users.Volcanic eruptions are one of the few natural phenomena that can have consequences at a global level. Volcanic activity can result in loss of life (~280,000 since AD 1600, Auker et al. 2013), as well as environmental, social and economic losses (e.g. Gencer 2013). However, it was not until the moderately sized eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in 2010 caused serious disruption to air traffic across the northern hemisphere (Þorkelsson 2012) that the potential global impact from erupting volcanoes became widely acknowledged. The Eyjafjallajökull 2010 eruption accumulated about US$ 5 billion of global economic losses and adversely affected long-haul aviation, trade and travel around the world (Ragona et al. 2011).Volcanic hazards have subsequently been included in global hazards and risk initiatives, such as the Global Assessment Report (GAR; United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015b). The 2015 GAR (GAR15) aimed to 'promote the integration of disaster risk management into development by raising the awareness that managing risks cost less than managing disasters' (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 2016). As a global level report, GAR15 had a coarse resolution to highlight comparable risks. Assessments at a finer resolution (national and local scales) are the responsibility of the...

Probabilistic Volcanic Hazard Assessment for Pyroclastic Density Currents From Pumice Cone Eruptions at Aluto Volcano, Ethiopia

“…Additionally, valuable economic and geothermal infrastructure is being developed near these sites (World Bank, 2016). The increasingly high exposure to volcanic hazards in Ethiopia (Vye- Brown et al, 2016), and the recent recognition of the potential hazards at these volcanoes (Fontijn et al, 2018;Clarke et al, 2019;Clarke, 2020), evokes an urgent need for quantitative, accountable, and defendable volcanic hazard assessment (e.g., Connor et al, 2001;Newhall and Hoblitt, 2002;Marzocchi et al, 2010;Calder et al, 2015).…”

The Geomorphology, Structure, and Lava Flow Dynamics of Peralkaline Rift Volcanoes From High‐Resolution Digital Elevation Models

“…Volcanic activity in the MER has formed both silicic peralkaline “central” volcanoes and distributed mafic cones and lavas (e.g., B. Abebe et al, ; Gibson, ). The poorly known volcanoes of the MER have become the focus of much recent work (Aspinall et al, ; Fontijn et al, ; Hutchison et al, , Hutchison, Fusillo, et al, , Hutchison, Biggs, et al, , Hutchison, Pyle, et al, , Hutchison et al, ; Lloyd, Biggs, Wilks, et al, , Lloyd, Biggs, Birhanu, et al, ; Martin‐Jones et al, ; McNamara et al, ; Rapprich et al, ; Siegburg et al, ; Tadesse et al, ; Vye‐Brown et al, ).…”

“…Abebe et al, 2007;Gibson, 1969). The poorly known volcanoes of the MER have become the focus of much recent work (Aspinall et al, 2011;Fontijn et al, 2018;Hutchison et al, 2015, Hutchison, Fusillo, et al, 2016, Lloyd, Biggs, Birhanu, et al, 2018Martin-Jones et al, 2017;McNamara et al, 2018;Rapprich et al, 2016;Siegburg et al, 2017;Tadesse et al, 2018;Vye-Brown et al, 2016).…”

Recurrent explosive eruptions from a high-risk Main Ethiopian Rift volcano throughout the Holocene

“…The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is a volcanically and tectonically active rifting zone and home to a population of more than 10 million people (Center for International Earth Science Information Network, 2005). However, few volcanoes are currently monitored and little is known about the magnitude and frequency of more recent (e.g., Holocene) eruptions, data fundamental to providing reliable hazard assessment (Hutchison et al, 2016a;Vye-Brown et al, 2016).…”