Vanuatu – Ambae eruptionTechnical Assistance to Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department for Volcanic Activity

Overview

In the space of about a month in August and September 2017, the Vanuatu volcanoes of Ambrym, Lopevi and Ambae either developed increased volcanic unrest (Ambrym and Lopevi) or began a major eruptive phase (Ambae). When the eruption at Ambae increased in intensity in late September, the Vanuatu Government ordered the evacuation of the 11,000 residents of the island, the whole population.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD), the government agency in Vanuatu responsible for monitoring volcanic activity, could not cope with the increased workload this situation imposed and approached the New Zealand Government for assistance in assessing the situation at the volcanoes, particularly at Ambae, and providing all-round monitoring support.

The project aimed to

• assist the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) in assessing the situation at the active volcano of Ambae, where 11,000 people were evacuated in September 2017 due to Ambae’s eruption
• provide additional support for Ambrym and Lopevi volcanoes, which were also showing potential signs of increased activity at the same time
• provide all-round volcano monitoring, data collection, technical and communications support

To achieve these objectives, we

• contributed to volcanic assessments and data collection, particularly on Ambae, but also for Ambrym and Lopevi
• provided advice on sharing information with stakeholders and the media, including writing news bulletins, press releases and news articles, and assisted with a communications plan
• provided technical support for the installation and maintenance of monitoring software and equipment

Main achievements

• participated in three volcano observation flights, covering the volcanoes Ambae, Lopevi, and Ambrym, and contributed to assessment of observations collected during those flights. The observation flights considerably increased knowledge of the eruptive activity, which flowed through to public communication about what was happening
• collected thermal infra-red imagery (not previously collected by VMGD) and used that to assist VMGD interpret the activity, especially at Ambae
• collated data on Ambae activity collected or analysed overseas, such as satellite-based estimates of ground deformation
• assisted VMGD to write Volcanic Alert Bulletins (VABs) and news articles for local media. In particular, this work focussed on increasing the information content of the bulletins so as to be more informative to stakeholders
• provided some basic instructions for writing press releases, and science media stories in general. Several of these stories were subsequently published in the local news media
• established a communications plan for VMGD while Ambae was erupting and assisted VMGD in responding to media enquiries

As a result of this project, VMGD is now able to

• make an improved assessment of volcanic eruptions and unrest, and determine what actions are appropriate
• better communicate the impacts of volcanic eruptions
• solve technical problems associated with equipment and software used to monitor volcanic eruptions
• better understand the impact of eruptions on environmental health, specifically on drinking water quality and on respiratory health, and can communicate that information to relevant stakeholders

Note: a similar response project was carried out in 2018-19 after Ambrym volcano entered a period of heightened activity.