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Why use citizen science in volcanic environments?

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{{OR/15/032}}
In this prototype project we aim to demonstrate how volcanic environments exposed to multiple hazards tend to be characterised by a lack of ''relevant ''data available both in real time and over the longer term (e.g. months to years). This can be at least partially addressed by actively involving citizens, communities, scientists and other key stakeholders in the collection, analysis and sharing of observations, samples and measurements of changes in the environment. Such co-production of knowledge over time can also build trusting relationships and resilience (Stone et al. 2014)<ref name="Stone 2014">STONE J, BARCLAY J, SIMMONS P, COLE PD, LOUGHLIN SC, RAMÓN P AND MOTHES P (2014) Risk reduction through community-based monitoring: the vigías of Tungurahua, Ecuador. ''Journal of Applied Volcanology '''''3''' (1): 1-14.</ref>. We propose the use of a smartphone application (app), ''myVolcano'', to promote citizen science, combined with real-time analysis of social media, a web-based version and a resource page. In combination, these will capture new data in real time, enable dialogue and provide redundancy.

In volcanic environments, the institution tasked with volcano monitoring has the primary role of working closely with civil protection organisations to keep populations safe by anticipating and forecasting hazardous events (e.g. Aspinall et al. 2002)<ref name="Aspinall 2002">ASPINALL W P, LOUGHLIN S C, MICHAEL F V, MILLER A D, NORTON G E, ROWLEY K C, SPARKS R S J, YOUNG S R,(2002) The Montserrat Volcano Observatory: its evolution, organisation, role and activities. In: ‘The eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, from 1995 to 1999’. ''Memoir of the Geological Society of London''. Druitt. T H, Kokelaar B P and Young S R (Eds).</ref>. There are more than 100 such monitoring institutions worldwide (<u>see [http://www.wovo.org http://www.wovo.org]</u>) and some engage directly with local populations by raising awareness of volcanic and other natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes and tsunami) and discussing hazards and environmental changes that occur (e.g. PHIVOLCS in the Philippines www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph). It was demonstrated in Montserrat, that scientists tended to be well-trusted by both at-risk populations and authorities (e.g. Haynes et al. 2007)<ref name=Haynes 2007">HAYNES K, BARCLAY J, PIDGEON N. (2007). The issue of trust and its influence on risk communication during a volcanic crisis. ''Bull Volcano'' l70 ('''5''') 605–621. </ref>. The role of monitoring institutions as multidisciplinary scientific and technical centres of excellence embedded in communities is often overlooked.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an archipelagic state in the Eastern Caribbean, the active volcano (La Soufrière) sits in the north of the main island (St Vincent). SVG is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) with an estimated population of 109 373 and GDP per capita of US$ 6515 in 2012 (GFDRR, 2014)<ref name="GFDRR 2014">GFDRR. (2014). Rapid Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA). December 24–25, 2013 floods: A report by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, January 16 2014. </ref>. Thirty percent of the population lives below the national poverty line (GFDRR, 2014)<ref name="GFDRR 2014"></ref>. Public external debt relative to GDP ratio was 70% in 2012, which results in St. Vincent having limited capacity to manage fiscal impacts of exogenous shocks (GFDRR, 2014)<ref name="GFDRR 2014"></ref>. St Vincent is exposed to a number of hazards including hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides, tsunami and floods, and 97% of the population live within 30 km of the volcano (Loughlin et al., 2015)<ref name="Loughlin 2015">LOUGHLIN S C, VYE-BROWN C, SPARKS R S J and BROWN S K et al. (2015). Global volcanic hazards and risk: Summary background paper for the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015. Global Volcano Model and IAVCEI.</ref>.

In SVG a number of different local, regional and international initiatives exist that are creating data and data products related to anticipating and responding to disasters. Many are research projects but they are rarely sustainable or operational and tend to pursue different agendas without interacting. Consequently, the methodology and proposed implementation of the app emphasises the importance of '''identifying end-user needs, understanding the context '''of the country, including its multiple hazard profile, '''integrating and linking app users to operational resources, official sources of information and advice, '''and other relevant resources.

The report begins by justifying the appropriateness of a citizen science approach and introducing the ''myVolcano ''app and our approach to applying it to different countries. The approach is then applied to St Vincent, identifying opportunities for and challenges to implementing the app. The report concludes with a short discussion of some of the key concerns identified during the study, how these relate to enhancing resilience, along with concrete recommendations for scaling up to other countries.

== Why use citizen science in volcanic environments?==
Volcanic environments are typically under-monitored, in part owing to the cost of equipment and maintenance (Brown et al. 2015a)<ref name="Brown 2015a">BROWN S K, LOUGHLIN S C, SPARKS, R S J, VYE-BROWN C, et al. (2015a). Global volcanic hazards and risk: Technical background paper for the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015. Global Volcano Model and IAVCEI.</ref>. Evidence suggests, however, that communities can participate, not only in the monitoring of their volcanic environment, but in discussions that raise awareness, understanding and preparedness, and also support early warning systems (e.g. Stone et al., 2014)<ref name="Stone 2014"></ref>. Community observers can bridge the gap between scientists and the public, enhance the trust between the public and scientists as well as enhance social capital (Stone, et al., 2014<ref name="Stone 2014"></ref>; Stevenson et al. 2013)<ref name="Stevenson 2013"> STEVENSON J, LOUGHLIN S C, FONT A, FULLER G W, MACLEOD A, OLIVER I W, JACKSON B, HORWELL C J, THORDARSON T and DAWSON I. (2013). UK monitoring and deposition of tephra from the May 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn, Iceland. ''Journal of Applied Volcanology'' 2 ('''3'''): 1–17. doi:10.1186/2191-5040-2-3 </ref>. Previous eruptions have demonstrated the critical role citizens can have in collecting samples of volcanic fallout (Bernard, 2013<ref name="Bernard 2013">BERNARD B. (2013). Homemade ashmeter: a low-cost, high-efficiency solution to improve tephra field-data collection for contemporary explosive eruptions. ''Journal of Applied Volcanology'' 2 ('''1'''): 1–9 </ref>; Stevenson et al., 2013)<ref name="Stevenson 2013"></ref>, but citizens can also participate in observation and monitoring of volcanic environments by providing data and understanding that can be used to reduce community risk, rather than exclusively for the purpose of scientific research (Stone et al., 2014<ref name="Stone 2014"></ref>). The public can also help scientists and civil protection understand the evolution and impacts of complex events and provide information that may have immediate value in rescue, recovery and mitigation efforts (e.g. Loughlin et al. 2002<ref name="Loughlin 2002">LOUGHLIN S C, BAXTER P J, ASPINALL W P, DARROUX B, HARFORD C L, MILLER A D. (2002). Eyewitness accounts of the 25 June 1997 pyroclastic flows at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, and implications for disaster mitigation. In: ‘The eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, from 1995 to 1999’. ''Memoir of the Geological Society of London''. Druitt T H, Kokelaar B P and Young S R (Eds).</ref>). Two-way communication established through scientists’ continuous engagement with volunteers can support the development of citizens’ (volunteers) understanding of and trust in scientists, whilst at the same time enhancing scientists’ understanding of the social, economic and cultural influences on individual decision-making in the face of volcanic risk (Stone et al., 2014<ref name="Stone 2014"></ref>).

Due to the dynamic nature of volcanic environments, there are opportunities to engage with citizens on an almost continuous basis (see [[OR/15/032 Appendix 1: Citizen science before, during and after volcanic eruptions | Appendix 1]]) to assess flooding, landslides, felt earthquakes and so on. [[OR/15/032 Appendix 2: Citizen science case studies | Appendix 2]] describes a number of citizen science initiatives employed in volcanic environments around the world. The following section introduces the ''myVolcano ''app.

==References==
<References/>

[[category: OR/15/032 Increasing resilience to natural hazards through crowd-sourcing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 02]]

OR/15/032 Introduction - Revision history

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