Náttúrufræðingurinn

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Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1983, Side 206

Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1983, Side 206
SUMMARY World organization and volcano observatories by Guðmundur E. Sigvaldason Nordic volcanological Institute University of Iceland, Reykjavík In volcanology the past decade was unusually eventful. Many volcanic erup- tions occurred and some of them posing considerable hazard to populated areas. For example, the 1973 volcanic eruption on Heimaey, Iceland, which partly destroyed the town of Vestmannaeyjar, rumblings of the Soufriere volcano on Guadeloupe, West Indies, resulting in the evacuation of about 74000 people living on the slopes of the volcano and in Italy where Etna has created both civil defense problems and opportunities for scientific study. In the United Stated when the first signs of reawakening of Mt. St. Helens became apparent in March, 1980, vol- canologists worked closely with local authorities to continually assess the volca- nic and associated hazards posed by the eruption that began on March 27. In the examples mentioned above, vol- canologists, in addition to being scientists, also had to play an important social role as advisers to administrators. In many cases, they were poorly prepared, partly because of the low priority volcanology has been given in scientific research funding alloca- tions through the years, and partly because they were faced with new situations never experienced before. In recognition of recent reorganization and associated modernization of their vol- cano observatories on Guadeloupe and Martinique, the French Government invited representatives of volcano observa- tories and institutions from all over the world to meet in February 18.—21., 1981. The main objective of the meeting was to establish, or improve, ties between people who either have direct responsibility for volcano monitoring in the respective coun- tries, or are in some way involved in vol- cano monitoring and serve as advisors to public authorities. Besides the host coun- try, France, the following countries were represented: Costa Rica, Iceland, Indone- sia, Italy, Japan, Protugal, Mexico and USA. The meeting, resulted in the establish- ment of a formal organization named World Organization of Volcano Observa- tories (WOVO). The principal objectives of this new organization are the following: 1. To create or improve ties between observatories and institutions directly involved in volcano monitoring. 2. To facilitate exchange of views and experience by convening periodic, perhaps annual meetings. 3. To maintain an up-to-date inventory of instrumentation and manpower which could be made available to any of the member institutions, if a situation arises which requires scientific reinforcement. 4. To promote funding from international organizations which could help defray travel and related expenses of scientific reinforcement teams. An executive board was elected consis- ting of the following persons: Dr. Guðmundur E. Sigvaldason, Iceland, president Dr. Robert I.Tilling, USA Prof. I. Yokoyama, Japan Dr. J. L. Le Mouel, France In addition to the above mentioned countries Equador, New Zealand, the Phi- lippines, Tobago and Trinidad have expressed interest in participating in the organization. Request for further informa- tion and statements of interest should be sent to the auther of this note. 186
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