HR: 1400h
AN: V23A-17    [Abstracts]
TI: Using GIS tools to visually represent complex volcanic issues. Poas volcano, Costa Rica.
AU: Haraldson, J
EM: johha863@student.liu.se
AF: Dpt of Computer and Information Systems, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden, Linkoping, Sweden
AU: * Duarte, E
EM: eduarte@una.ac.cr
AF: OVSICORI-UNA Costa Rica, Campus Heredia Costa Rica, Heredia, 3000, Costa Rica
AU: Fernandez, E
EM: efernan@una.ac.cr
AF: OVSICORI-UNA Costa Rica, Campus Heredia Costa Rica, Heredia, 3000, Costa Rica
AB: GIS software was used to visualize a series of extraordinary events that have occurred recently at Poas Volcano, Costa Rica. Maps, images, graphics and other visual instruments were produced during the course of an academic internship at OVSICORI-UNA. Spatial and temporal concepts related to volcano monitoring conventional observations are introduced. Poas (10 11 15 N, 84 13 48 W, and 2708 m.a.s.l) is one of the main massifs on the Central Volcanic range, Costa Rica. It is located NW of the Central Valley, where the most developed and populated cities are located. The volcanogenic pollution and its impact on the environment, as well as the implications over socio-economic activities developed at the surroundings of the volcano, are more severe during increases in subaerial fumarolic outgassing and these points to the important role played by the presence of the crater lake as a buffering system. This is an important aspect to consider due to the frequency of the events and to the prolonged periods of impact over the same areas. The work consisted in putting together a large amount of data varying from notebooks, maps, documents, conventional, multispectral and aerial photographs, in a format readable by the GIS interface, in this case ArcGIS 9.1. As most data refers to geographic locations, a great deal of the data could easily be represented in a GIS. Using the built-in analysis functionalities in ArcGIS, complex issues, concerning volcanogenic pollution and its impact on the surrounding environment, were allowed to be visually represented, using both two and three dimensions. Being able to visualize these issues, do not only help volcanologists to understand the processes involved, but also aids in the communication of these issues to concerned actors in the society. This is of importance due to the fact that volcanogenic pollution does address several areas handled by various authorities. GIS offers a platform for analysis and visualization that could aid in joint efforts to address the problems described. We will present a poster fully illustrated with images and 3D visual aids containing gas and solid plumes derived from recent activity at Poas volcano.
UR: http:www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr
DE: 8404 Volcanoclastic deposits
DE: 8414 Eruption mechanisms and flow emplacement
DE: 8485 Remote sensing of volcanoes
DE: 8488 Volcanic hazards and risks
DE: 8494 Instruments and techniques
SC: Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology [V]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly