Volcanic crisis management in megacities on and around active volcanoes.

Convenors

Jan Lindsay   The University of Auckland   New Zeland   Email: j.lindsay@auckland.ac.nz Hugo Delgado   Instituto de Geofísica, UNAM   Mexico   Email: hugo@tonatiuh.igeofcu.unam.mx

Description

Many cities around the world are vulnerable to the potentially devastating effects of volcanic eruptions, and the problem of volcanic risk and crisis management is particularly difficult when the city threatened by the volcanic activity is a megacity with a population of several million inhabitants. Moreover, volcanic risk and crisis management is becoming more and more challenging as many of the world’s cities continue grow and thus encroach on volcanic regions that were previously uninhabited. Volcanic activity affecting megacities can be both direct and indirect. Ash from a nearby erupting volcano can have a considerable impact on infrastructure, and any closure of airports in large cities for even a day or two can have a devastating impact on the economy. Aerosol and gas emissions from a volcano may contribute to the pollution of these cities to the extent that countermeasures should be taken. Challenges for authorities in megacities faced with a volcanic crisis are numerous. This session is devoted to gathering experiences from scientists and authorities working in megacities that may have experienced a real or simulated eruptive event, or that are threatened by such activity. We welcome presentations addressing the challenges of preparedness, public education, planning, acceptable risk, information dissemination, decision making, evacuation, welfare provision, business continuity, communication between scientists and decision makers, and recovery.