Developing the future vision for seamless multi-hazard warnings for volcanic eruptions—outcomes from a workshop at IAVCEI 2023, Rotorua

Abstract

A half-day workshop was held following the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Scientific Assembly in Rotorua, New Zealand, on 5 February 2023. The workshop took advantage of the presence of operationally focused meteorologists, leaders from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and volcanologists (mostly from volcano observatories) for an aviation workshop over the previous 2 days. Our workshop focused on non-aviation issues but sought to develop the ‘big-picture’ of multi-hazard arrangements, particularly noting the intertwining of the disciplines for many volcanic hazards, and a global push towards better integrated, impact-based multi-hazard early warning systems, including especially the Sendai Framework and the ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative. The hazards requiring joint multi-disciplinary arrangements include tsunamis, ashfall and airborne/water-borne ash, rainfall-induced dome collapses, lahars, pumice, glacial floods, and gas. Of these, only airborne ash for aviation users has received much attention. Following an afternoon of presentations, panel discussions, and breakout discussion, two summary visualisations were prepared—a future ‘vision’ and a future ‘roadmap’ for multi-hazard operations. These are presented as input towards follow-up actions, including ensuring that volcanic ash for aviation arrangements are embedded within a holistic multi-hazard and multi-user approach.