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Volcanic hazards in the long term: 3rd Volcano Observatory Best Practices (VOBP) workshop

November 29, 2016

Volcanologists from volcano observatories around the world met at the international Volcano Observatory Best Practices Workshop in Vancouver, Washington from November 15-18th to collaborate on how to best communicate volcanic hazard and risk via long-term assessments.

Volcanologists collaborate on how to best communicate volcanic hazard and risk via long-term assessments at the third Volcano Observatory Best Practices workshop in Vancouver, Washington from November 15th to 18th, 2016.

Volcanic hazards are a threat to millions of people who live near the world's 1,550 active volcanoes. Together as a global community of volcanologists we shared ideas, success stories, and useful strategies that are critical to protecting peoples' lives and communities' livelihoods.

An overarching discovery during the meeting was that many best practices are tailored to specific countries and volcanoes, since observatories have variable resources and community involvement. As a result, a variety of hazard assessment approaches were featured, including numerical models and complex databases, user-tailored hazard maps, and new communications strategies and tools—including how to represent long-term volcanic hazards on maps.

CalVO scientists contributed their own thoughts on developing the "next generation" of hazard assessments for US volcanoes, a process that has already begun with updating and revised hazard assessments and maps. The Lassen Volcanic Center assessment (2012) and its accompanying map are the newest of these products to be released for California volcanoes.

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