Authors / CoAuthors
Jenkins, S.F. | Wilson, T.M. | Magill, C.R. | Miller, V. | Stewart, C. | Marzocchi, W. | Boulton, M.
Abstract
All explosive eruptions generate tephra, fragments of volcanic rock that are produced when magma or vent material is explosively disintegrated during eruption. Tephra is then convected upwards with the eruption column and carried downwind, falling out of suspension and potentially affecting communities across hundreds, or even thousands, of square kilometres. Although tephra falls rarely endanger human life directly, threats to public health and disruption to critical infrastructure services, aviation and primary production can lead to potentially substantial societal impacts. Even relatively small eruptions, such as the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland (VEI 4 on a logarithmic scale of 0 to 8 ), can cause widespread disruption, damage and economic loss. Given the potentially large geographic dispersal of tephra, and the substantial impacts that even small (a few mm) deposits can have for society, this background paper elaborates upon the tephra component of the volcanic contribution to the UN Global Assessment Report 2015. Here, we provide an overview of tephra fall hazard at global, regional and local scales and discuss the key components required to carry these hazard estimates forward to risk: namely identification of likely impacts and the response (vulnerability) of key sectors of society to tephra fall impact. Broad relationships between tephra thickness and key levels of damage have been outlined. Greater knowledge of future tephra fall hazard and associated impacts can support mitigation actions, crisis planning and emergency management activities and is an essential step towards building resilience for communities.
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
79617
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Custodian
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External Publication
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Volcanology
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2014-01-01T00:00:00
Creation Date
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notPlanned
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Lineage
UNISDR Report
Parent Information
Extents
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
Source Information
Background Paper for UNISDR Report Global Assessment Report for Disaster Risk Reduction Background Paper for UNISDR Report Global Assessment Report for Disaster Risk Reduction