What I would like is a list of all methods of prediction of Volcanic events, from Siesmographs and geodometers to tiltmeters. Hopefully, this way I will learn of more methods than I already know. I think you are currently preparing pages on this subject; they will be most useful. I need the information now, though. Would it be possible, also, to give a brief description on the more obscure ones? Ideally I would like an explanation, but I feel this is too much to ask and so simply request a list so I can go and find some more information about each. References would also be helpful (both Internet and books). Thank you very, very much.

rocky Andrew Snow, Sydney, Australia

Hi Andrew,

I can find you some obscure references, but I think you wanted obscure monitoring techniques. Fortunately most of the techniques are not that obscure, and are able to be used at most volcanoes around the world. Of course the most obvious technique is to have a trained observer look at the volcano every day. He or she will then alert officials if some dramatic change has occurred. Depending on the volcano that change can include just about anything you can think of (crater lake boiling, new fumaroles, normal plume now dark and full of ask, larger than normal explosions, explosions period, etc.)

Here are a few references that may be more helpful:

UNESCO (1972). The Surveillance and Preediction of Volcanic Activity: A Review of Methods and Techniques. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, 166 pp.

Tazieff J, Sabroux J-C (1983). Forecasting Volcanic Events, Developments in Volcanology I. Elsevier Publishers, Amsterdam, 635 pp.

Tilling RI (1989). Volcanic Hazards. Short Course in Geology: Volume I, Presented at the 28th International Geological Congress, Washington, D.C. 123 pp.

I hope these will give you some good leads in your search.

sincerely,

Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii 

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