Educational Activity At Ingv Centres To Mitigate Risk Of Vulcano And Stromboli Active Volcanoes (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Abstract

Vulcano and Stromboli are the most active volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands. Vulcano is in a quiescent stage since the eruption of 1888-90, but in the last decades it underwent several crises with huge increase in the gas output and temperature of crater fumaroles, and in the magmatic gas components. Stromboli is characterized by a permanent mild explosive activity, episodically interrupted by major explosions, lava effusions, or paroxystic explosive events (October 2001: a tourist killed; December 2002: lava effusion, tsunami generated by flank collapse; April 2003: explosive paroxysm, block fallout on Ginostra village; February-March 2007: lava effusion and paroxysm). Both island are renowned tourist sites and during summer risk increases as there are 10,000-15,000 persons per island (only a few hundreds in winter). In order to reduce the risk by educational activity, a Volcanological Information Centre has been established on each island (since 1990 at Vulcano and 1997 at Stromboli), by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in cooperation with National Civil Protection and local authorities. Visitors receive informations on volcanic hazards, volcano monitoring systems and preparedness plans. Past and current volcanic activity is illustrated in the exhibition rooms, where real-time images of the active craters of Stromboli, Vulcano and Etna can be observed, together with seismic and geochemical signals, on dedicated monitors. A special attention is given to provide instructions minimizing the risk for those willing to climb the summit crater area. Booklets and posters are distributed freely. During summer, volcanology students of several Italian universities, coordinated by senior researchers, are involved in the tourist educational/information activity in the visitor centres.