Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1983, Page 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.
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