Hazard Mitigation: Volcán Barú, Panama

Julie A. Herrick

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Panama

International Collaboration

Outline:

Volcanic Hazards Worldwide Events and Products Strongest Impact Monitoring Methods

Invitation to Panama Natural Hazards Authorities Mitigation Activities Nationwide

Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction Volcanic hazards in western Panama

Field Methods Frequency of events

Ongoing Collaboration

Volcán Barú Hazard Zones,USGS 2007.

Volcán Barú, Panama

(Siebert et al. 2010)

Volcanism Worldwide

Less than half of the world’s active volcanoes are currently monitored.

In under-developed countries:•82% of active volcano locations•86% of volcano-related deaths between 1600 AD and 1982

(Lockwood, 2010; Chester, 1993)

Volcanic Hazards Worldwide

Events Each Century~60 events that pose a threat to

aviation~60 events related to lava flows~20 events related to lahars,

pyroclastic flows/surges~0.5-1.0 events related to structural

collapse (e.g. sector failure)

(Chester, 1993)

Unzen Complex above Shimabara, Japan(Takashi Yamada, 1992).

Volcanic Hazards Worldwide

Fatal Events (1600 to 1982)0.4% from lava flows19% from tsunamis30% from lahars, avalanches,

pyroclastic flows/surges(Chester, 1993)

Ashfall from Pinatubo, Philippines.(USGS, 1991).

Buried to the roofline, children standing on a school’s roof abovelahar flows from Pinatubo, Philippines.(USGS, 1991).

Hazard Forecasting

“Keeping Monitoring as Simple as Practical” (Swanson, 1995)

(Ewert et al. 2005)

*

The Republic of Panama

Panama’s Three Primary Volcanic Centers

Canal

Mitigation Authorities

University of Panama Sinaproc

National System of Civil Protection Senacyt

National Council of Science and Technology CEPREDENAC

Center of Natural Disaster Prevention in Central America OSOP

Seismic Observatory of Western Panama

Seismic Hazards

(UTP & Sinaproc)

Orange and red points are ≥6.0 magnitude events.

Volcanic Hazards: Chiriquí Province

International effort of IAVCEI, “Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction” Pro-active regional participant,

CEPREDENAC Significant, recent events:

Mount St. Helens, Nevado de Ruiz, Cameroon, Pinatubo, Unzen

First Report: Identification and Assessment

Mitigation at Volcán Barú, 1992 Volcanic region supports major agriculture and tourism

“Economic risk” Davíd, the 2nd largest populated center in the country is

downslope “Vulnerability”

High precipitation rates proximal to the edifice “Natural climate”

Established general stratigraphy of the volcano with K/Ar dating Calculated the lower limit for the volcano’s age

Formalized action plan Inter-agency communication in Panamanian

Hazard Zones

(Sherrod et al. 2007)

Products from assessments by the US-based Volcano Disaster Assistance Program, “VDAP.”

Crisis Response

Collaboration: Senacyt/US AID providing funding USGS consulting and VDAP visit, equipment loan, and training Sinaproc Universtiy of Panama Local community members

“Earthquake activity beneath Panama's Baru Volcano in May 2006 served as a reminder that the slumbering volcano, long thought to be dormant by local residents, might one day reawaken. English News Panama 3/5/2008”

Volcán Barú’s Timeline

(Sherrod et al. 2007)

Volcán Barú: Collapsed Edifice

Original Photo by K. Johnson (1995)

(1) Caisán Collapse; (2) Barriles Collapse

Mount St. Helens: Collapsed Edifice

Photographed on Sept. 10, 1980; the collapsed profile is outlined in black.

Communication

Informational meetings held with local authorities,Civil Protection of the Chiriqui Province, Sept., 2009.

Ron and Kim Miller at an avalanche outcrop, Gariché Ranch, Feb., 2009.

In the stratigraphy:

A: The Barriles Deposit, the “young” deposit.

B: Sedimentary beds of fine sand and clay.

C: The Caisan Deposit, the “old” unit.

Field Methods

Scarp height: 15 meters

Barriles Volume: 34 km^3 Caisan Deposit: 53 km^3

Volume Calculations

Radiocarbon Sampling:

Barriles Deposit 3-120 meters thick:

Sample GPS072 8,000 ±30 ybp

Sample GPS309 8,590 ±50 ybp

Caisán Deposit 4.5-128 meters thick:

Sample GPS065 43,350 ±750 ybp

Sample GPS248 >43,500

Discovering wood fragments from a broken and buried forest.

Barú, Panama 200.

International Collaboration

In Panama: Seed money for seismic monitoring Professional publications disseminating new data Volcanic history has become well-established New research possibilities have appeared Increased hazard awareness for the public

Thanks!

•Financial:

•NSF Partnerships in International Research and Education (0530109)•Peace Corps Panama

•Guidance:•Dr. William I. Rose

•Frank A. Trusdell, USGS•Dr. John P. Lockwood•Geology Graduate Seminar

Participants

Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge (Hinderman, 2004).

"It should be emphasized that the short-term hazards posed by volcanoes are balanced by benefits of volcanism and related processes over geologic time." -- Robert I.Tilling, USGS, 1985.