Communication is key to saving lives

Recent advances in volcano monitoring, new and refined volcano-hazard assessments, and better warning schemes have significantly improved our capability to warn of volcano hazards and impending eruptions. Our volcano information and warnings, however, no matter how timely or precise, will reduce volcanic risk only if they are communicated effectively to a wide audience, especially to people who live and work in potentially hazardous areas and to emergency-management specialists. In 1985 volcanoes killed more than 23,000 people to know how critical it is for us to work closely with many people when planning for future volcanic emergencies and responding to current volcano threats.

Increasing public awareness of volcano hazards

In addition to carrying out specialized studies on volcanoes and hazards posed by them, we need participate in a wide variety of projects and activities intended to increase awareness of volcano hazards and minimize future consequences of volcano activity:

• participate in volcano-emergency planning workshops and emergency-response exercises
• convene international, regional, and local workshops focused on volcano-hazard issues
• prepare educational materials with partners, including exhibits, fact sheets, booklets, video programs, and maps
• collaborate with emergency-management specialists to develop effective warning schemes
• meet with community leaders and residents wanting information about potentially dangerous volcanoes in their area
• work with the news media and media producers
• lead educational field trips to active and potentially dangerous volcanoes for the public, officials, local residents, educators, and students
• help educators and students with classroom presentations, teacher workshops, field trips, and activities

For more go to http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/About/What/Reduce/Prepare.html

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Online Journals Related to Volcanology (study of valcanoes):

List of online journals related to Volcanology, study of Volcanoes. Go to http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/journals.html

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Information for future volcanologists:

Scientists who study volcanoes work on a variety of diverse areas. Physical volcanologists study the actual processes and deposits of volcanic eruptions. Geophysicists have several areas of specialization within the field which include seismology (the study of earthquakes - very useful in volcano monitoring), gravity and magnetics. Go to http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Outreach/StudyVolcanoes/framework.html 

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Michigan Technological University Volcanoes:

A primary focus of volcanology is to provide scientific and educational information that can lead to hazard mitigation. Michigan Tech's Volcanoes Page aims to provide information about volcanoes to the public and to complement other informational sites on the web. We started this site when there were almost no other volcano sites--now there are lots, and many of them have far more resources. Go to http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/

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Source:  http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/ & various Internet sites as mentioned