Guidelines for volcano-observatory operations during crises: recommendations from the 2019 volcano observatory best practices meeting

Abstract

In November 2019, the fourth Volcano Observatory Best Practices workshop was held in Mexico City as a series of talks, discussions, and panels. Volcanologists from around the world offered suggestions for ways to optimize volcano-observatory crisis operations. By crisis, we mean unrest that may or may not lead to eruption, the eruption itself, or its aftermath, all of which require analysis and communications by the observatory. During a crisis, the priority of the observatory should be to acquire, process, analyze, and interpret data in a timely manner. A primary goal is to communicate effectively with the authorities in charge of civil protection. Crisis operations should rely upon exhaustive planning in the years prior to any actual unrest or eruptions. Ideally, nearly everything that observatories do during a crisis should be envisioned, prepared, and practiced prior to the actual event. Pre-existing agreements and exercises with academic and government collaborators will minimize confusion about roles and responsibilities. In the situation where planning is unfinished, observatories should prioritize close ties and communications with the land and civil-defense authorities near the most threatening volcanoes.To a large extent, volcanic crises become social crises, and any volcano observatory should have a communication strategy, a lead communicator, regular status updates, and a network of colleagues outside the observatory who can provide similar messaging to a public that desires consistent and authoritative information. Checklists permit tired observatory staff to fulfill their duties without forgetting key communications, data streams, or protocols that need regular fulfilment (Bretton et al. Volcanic Unrest. Advances in Volcanology, 2018; Newhall et al. Bull Volcanol 64:3–20, 2020). Observatory leaders need to manage staff workload to prevent exhaustion and ensure that expertise is available as needed. Event trees and regular group discussions encourage multi-disciplinary thinking, consideration of disparate viewpoints, and documentation of all group decisions and consensus. Though regulations, roles and responsibilities differ around the world, scientists can justify their actions in the wake of an eruption if they document their work, are thoughtful and conscientious in their deliberations, and carry out protocols and procedures developed prior to volcanic unrest. This paper also contains six case studies of volcanic eruptions or observatory actions that illustrate some of the topics discussed herein. Specifically, we discuss Ambae (Vanuatu) in 2017–2018, Kīlauea (USA) in 2018, Etna (Italy) in 2018, Bárðarbunga (Iceland) in 2014, Cotopaxi (Ecuador) in 2015, and global data sharing to prepare for eruptions at Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of Congo). A Spanish-language version of this manuscript is provided as Additional file 1.

Responding to eruptive transitions during the 2020–2021 eruption of La Soufrière volcano, St. Vincent

“…These communications maintained credibility in the monitoring capability of SRC 27 , 28 . A similar communication strategy employed by the USGS, in response to the 2014–2015 Kilauea volcano lava-flow crisis, was shown to be a highly effective approach 29 and aligns with volcano observatory best practices for operations during crises 6 .…”

“…Volcanic crises include unrest, eruption and any aftermath. The core goal of observatory staff during crises is to acquire, analyse interpret and communicate data in a way that assists local populations and civil protection agencies with their decision-making 6 .…”

Communication when it is needed most—the past, present and future of volcano geoheritage

“…The community continues to discover novel ways to use social media (Williams and Krippner 2018;Lowenstern et al 2022). Many opportunities exist in the "learning" framework that we have outlined above for social media, including volcanic activity, education, EDI and meetings.…”

“…Maps that illustrate hazard, exposure, vulnerability and risk are fundamentally important for lives, livelihoods and infrastructure (Blong 1984;Lowenstern et al 2022). By integrating these different type of maps, an understanding of risk to primary and secondary hazards emerges for people and the environment, including both natural and developed landscapes.…”

“…Easy and rapid communication channels such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams could be in place and made available as needed. Using such communication resources, expert solicitations could be efficiently and rapidly accomplished using a wide range of people when volcanic unrest occurs (Lowenstern et al 2022). A well-linked observatory network could share hardware, software and instrumentation, while an exchange program of personnel could be established to foster collaborations and best practices (see for example https:// www.…”