Co-ideation of disaster preparedness strategies through a participatory design approach: Challenges and opportunities experienced at Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica

Disaster preparedness is key to coping and adaptation during the immediate aftermath of a natural hazard, but the majority of those at risk do not feel prepared. In this participatory action research we investigate the use of a participatory design approach to increase disaster preparedness around Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica. We present a case study of two ideation workshops and explore the process, outcomes, challenges and opportunities during ideation. Socio-cognitive dimensions, specifically risk and responsibility transfer, appear to be important factors influencing the uptake of self-protective measures. Challenges in workshop facilitation were of a human, cultural and resource nature. However, the overall process was successful with participants showing indications of empowerment and a number of pressing design opportunities identified

Microbial Survival in an Extreme Martian Analog Ecosystem: Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

Past acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems on Mars have promise in their ability to have hosted life for billions of years. One method for analyzing these systems is to study analog environments on Earth. To assess the astrobiological potential of Martian acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems, the crater lake of the active Po&aacute;s Volcano, Laguna Caliente, was sampled in 2013 and 2017. Laguna Caliente presents an extremely dynamic terrestrial environment with near-ambient to boiling temperatures, pH fluctuations from &minus;0.87 to 1.5, a wide range of chemistries and redox potential, and frequent phreatic-to-phreatomagmatic eruptions. Samples of lake fluid, sulfur clumps, and lake bottom sediment underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic &ldquo;shotgun&rdquo; sequencing, which revealed this lake hosts an extremely low biodiversity of microorganisms dominated by Acidiphilium spp. Shotgun metagenomics of the samples suggests this community has numerous genetic adaptations that confer survival, including functional pathways to reduce the effects of toxic metals and numerous metabolic pathways utilizing a variety of simple and complex sugar molecules. The identification of these various metabolic pathways suggests adaptations related to carbon limited environments, fulfillment of high energy requirements, and survival in a hostile volcanic setting. The perseverance of life in Laguna Caliente indicates life on Mars could have thrived in analogous environments, stressing the need for the search for life in relict Martian acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems. &nbsp;</p

Insights into the mechanisms of phreatic eruptions from continuous high frequency volcanic gas monitoring: Rinc\uf3n de la Vieja Volcano, Costa Rica

Understanding the trigger mechanisms of phreatic eruptions is key to mitigating the effects of these hazardous but poorly forecastable volcanic events. It has recently been established that high-rate volcanic gas observations are potentially very suitable to identifying the source processes driving phreatic eruptions, and to eventually detecting precursory changes prior to individual phreatic blasts. In February-May 2017, we deployed a Multi-GAS instrument to continuously monitor gas concentrations in the crater lake plume of Rincon de la Vieja, a remote and poorly monitored active volcano in Costa Rica, site of frequent phreatic/phreatomagmatic eruptions. Forty-two phreatic/phreatomagmatic eruptions were seismically recorded during our investigated period, 9 of which were also recorded for gas by the Multi-GAS. To the best of our knowledge, these represent the first instrumentally measured gas compositions during individual phreatic/phreatomagmatic explosions at an active volcano. Our results show that during background quiescent degassing the Rincon de la Vieja crater lake plume was characterized by high CO2/SO2 ratios of 64 +/- 59 and H2S/SO2 ratios of 0.57 +/- 0.20. This composition is interpreted as reflecting hydrothermal (re) processing of magma-sourced gas in the sub-limnic environment. Phreatic blasts were recorded by the Multi-GAS as brief (1-2min long) pulses of elevated gas mixing ratios (up to similar to 52 ppmv SO2 and &gt; 3,000 ppmv CO2), or more than an order of magnitude higher than during background degassing (similar to 1 ppmv SO2 and similar to 450 ppmv CO2). During the phreatic eruption(s), the H2S/SO2 ratio was systematically lower (&lt; 0.18) than during background degassing, but the CO2/SO2 ratio remained high (and variable), ranging from 37 to 390. These S-poor compositions for the eruptive gas imply extensive processing of the source magmatic gas during pre-eruptive hydrothermal storage, likely by deposition of native S and/or sulfate. Our gas results are thus overall consistent with a mechanismof phreatic eruptions triggered by accumulation of magmatic-hydrothermal gases beneath a hydrothermal seal. We claim that real-time Multi-GAS monitoring is urgently needed at other crater lake-hosting volcanoes (e.g., Ruapehu, Aso), where phreatic eruptions may similarly be preceded by phases of reduced S degassing at the surface

Synoptic analysis of a decade of daily measurements of SO2 emission in the troposphere from volcanoes of the global ground-based Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change

Volcanic plumes are common and far-reaching manifestations of volcanic activity during and between eruptions. Observations of the rate of emission and composition of volcanic plumes are essential to recognize and, in some cases, predict the state of volcanic activity. Measurements of the size and location of the plumes are important to assess the impact of the emission from sporadic or localized events to persistent or widespread processes of climatic and environmental importance. These observations provide information on volatile budgets on Earth, chemical evolution of magmas, and atmospheric circulation and dynamics. Space-based observations during the last decades have given us a global view of Earth's volcanic emission, particularly of sulfur dioxide (SO2). Although none of the satellite missions were intended to be used for measurement of volcanic gas emission, specially adapted algorithms have produced time-averaged global emission budgets. These have confirmed that tropospheric plumes, produced from persistent degassing of weak sources, dominate the total emission of volcanic SO2. Although space-based observations have provided this global insight into some aspects of Earth's volcanism, it still has important limitations. The magnitude and short-term variability of lower-atmosphere emissions, historically less accessible from space, remain largely uncertain. Operational monitoring of volcanic plumes, at scales relevant for adequate surveillance, has been facilitated through the use of ground-based scanning differential optical absorption spectrometer (ScanDOAS) instruments since the beginning of this century, largely due to the coordinated effort of the Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change (NOVAC). In this study, we present a compilation of results of homogenized post-analysis of measurements of SO2 flux and plume parameters obtained during the period March 2005 to January 2017 of 32 volcanoes in NOVAC. This inventory opens a window into the short-term emission patterns of a diverse set of volcanoes in terms of magma composition, geographical location, magnitude of emission, and style of eruptive activity. We find that passive volcanic degassing is by no means a stationary process in time and that large sub-daily variability is observed in the flux of volcanic gases, which has implications for emission budgets produced using short-term, sporadic observations. The use of a standard evaluation method allows for intercomparison between different volcanoes and between ground- and space-based measurements of the same volcanoes. The emission of several weakly degassing volcanoes, undetected by satellites, is presented for the first time. We also compare our results with those reported in the literature, providing ranges of variability in emission not accessible in the past. The open-access data repository introduced in this article will enable further exploitation of this unique dataset, with a focus on volcanological research, risk assessment, satellite-sensor validation, and improved quantification of the prevalent tropospheric component of global volcanic emission

Rheology of dacitic volcanoes : from magma chamber to eruptive style

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 31, 2011).Thesis advisor: Dr. Alan G. Whittington.Vita.Ph. D. University of Missouri--Columbia 2010.[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Arc and especially dacitic volcanoes present a large variety of eruptive styles, from effusive to explosive, that depends on the ability of the magma to degas. The rate of degassing is controlled by the viscosity of the melt, which strongly depends on the temperature and the composition, particularly the fraction of dissolved water. Measuring the viscosity of hydrous and anhydrous remelts in the range [approximate sign]10 to 1013 [pascal-second] between 663 and 1773 K, we show that the viscosity of hydrous arc magma on the calc-alkaline differentiation trend can be simplified to a function of temperature, silica and water contents. An empirical model for melt viscosity was developed that applies to the differentiation processes in the magma chamber, and to the liquid phase during its ascent in the conduit. Compaction experiments on natural rock samples reveal a temperature-dependent, non-Newtonian, shear-thinning, power-law rheology, with apparent viscosity reduced by the presence and deformation of vesicles. Applied to the volcanic activity of Santiaguito, Guatemala, the study supports current models of a magmatic slug pushed toward the surface like a piston, thanks to the shearing of the bubbles at the margin of the conduit. Moreover, it shows that lava has no yield strength, or lower than 5 [pascal-second]104 Pa at 890[degree sign]C, and therefore the dimensions of the flow are controlled by the temperature and the amount of material, i.e. thermodynamic properties and the effusion rate.Includes bibliographical references

Co-Designing Communication & Hazard Preparedness Strategies: Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica

Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaObservatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Ric

Co-designing communication and hazard preparedness strategies at Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica

EGU General Assembly 2014Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaGeophysical Research Abstracts vol.16 201

Volcano monitoring in Costa Rica: The reactivation of Turrialba volcano increases expectations

Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI), Universidad Nacional

Seismic activity at Irazú volcano after the 5th September 2012 Nicoya, Earthquake, Costa Rica

Póster sobre actividad sísmica en el volcán Irazú después del terremoto del 5 de septiembre de 2012 en Nicoya, Costa RicaPoster about seismic activity in the Irazú volcano after the earthquake of September 5, 2012 in Nicoya, Costa RicaUniversidad Nacional, Costa RicaObservatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Ric

Botos Lagoon, Poás Volcano National Park, Costa Rica – Consumer drones in professional research

The International Union of Geological Sciences designated the Poás Volcano National Park in Costa Rica one of the top 100 sites for geological importance in the world. This was announced on the World Geological Heritage list which includes sites from 56 additional countries. The Poás Volcano stands out next to Mount Everest in Nepal, the Grand Canyon in the United States and the caldera of Santorini in Greece. The Poás Volcano National Park is an active volcanic crater visible from the crater rim and is one of the most visited National Parks in Costa Rica. Consumer drones were used at the Poás Volcano National Park in particular at the Botos Lagoon for observational research and environmental monitoring for several conservational applications assisted by the use of drones. UAS have been periodically used by the Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry Universidad Nacional LAQAT-UNA for monitoring the Botos Lagoon for geological fluctuations. Economically priced drone systems have now become common pieces of field work equipment for volcanologists. Most importantly they offer the opportunity to access dangerous difficult to reach areas of the volcano and allow for the collection of data on the otherwise inaccessible areas. By compiling all of this data together in a collective analytical survey of the Poás Volcano including the Botos Lagoon located in the prehistorical dormant crater, much valuable data can be brought to the scientific community for increased understanding of the Poás Volcano National Park and its importance to the nation.La Unión Internacional de Ciencias Geológicas designó al Parque Nacional Volcán Poás en Costa Rica como uno de los 100 sitios de mayor importancia geológica en el mundo. Esto se anunció en la lista del Patrimonio Geológico Mundial que incluye sitios de 56 países adicionales. El Volcán Poás se destaca junto al Monte Everest en Nepal, el Gran Cañón en Estados Unidos y la caldera de Santorini en Grecia. El Parque Nacional Volcán Poás es un cráter volcánico activo visible desde el borde del cráter y es uno de los Parques Nacionales más visitados de Costa Rica. Los drones de consumo se utilizaron en el Parque Nacional Volcán Poás, en particular en la Laguna de Botos, para investigación observacional y monitoreo ambiental para varias aplicaciones de conservación asistidas por el uso de drones. Los UAS han sido utilizados periódicamente por el Laboratorio de Química Atmosférica de la Universidad Nacional LAQAT-UNA para monitorear las fluctuaciones geológicas de la Laguna de Botos. Los sistemas de drones de precio económico ahora se han convertido en piezas comunes del equipo de trabajo de campo para los vulcanólogos. Lo que es más importante, ofrecen la oportunidad de acceder a áreas peligrosamente difíciles de alcanzar del volcán y permiten la recopilación de datos en las áreas que de otro modo serían inaccesibles. Al recopilar todos estos datos en un estudio analítico colectivo del Volcán Poás, incluida la laguna de Botos ubicada en el cráter inactivo prehistórico, se pueden brindar muchos datos valiosos a la comunidad científica para una mayor comprensión del Parque Nacional Volcán Poás y su importancia para la Nación.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaEscuela de Químic