(7 pages) IAVWOPSG.5.WP 033.5.en.docx

INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP

Lima, Peru, 15 to 19 March 2010

Agenda Item 5: Operation of the IAVW 5.2: Improvement of the format and content of all volcanic ash related messages STANDARDIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL VOLCANO DATABASE USED BY VAACS

This paper 1) identifies a need for a common, international to be used by the VAACs for Table A2ash); 2) proposes that the Smithsonian Institution volcano database be used for this; 3) proposes specific actions to determine what needs to be done to implement an international database by all VAACs; 4) identifies a need to document this information in the Handbook of the IAVW

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Element 4 in Table A2Association of Volcanology and Chemistrofficial reference in the Template for volcanic ash advisory message.

1.2 The list of volcanoes is (SI). It is built upon the Catalog of published by the (IAVCEI) beginning in 1951http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/summary.xls

1.3 A comparison conducted in October 2009 revealed significant differences between the latest version of the SI database online and the one used by VAAC Montréal. Examples are presented in Appendix 1.

International Civil Aviation Organization WORKING PAPER

INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP (IAVWOPSG)

FIFTH MEETING

Lima, Peru, 15 to 19 March 2010

Operation of the IAVW Improvement of the format and content of all volcanic ash related messages

STANDARDIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL VOLCANO DATABASE USED BY VAACS

(Presented by Canada and IUGG)

SUMMARY

This paper 1) identifies a need for a common, international volcano database to be used by the VAACs for Table A2-1 (Template for advisory for volcanic ash); 2) proposes that the Smithsonian Institution volcano database be used for this; 3) proposes specific actions to determine what needs to be done to

n international database by all VAACs; 4) identifies a need to document this information in the Handbook of the IAVW.

Element 4 in Table A2-1 of Annex 3 requires VAACs to use the name and International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) volcano number as the official reference in the Template for volcanic ash advisory message.

The list of volcanoes is maintained and updated regularly by the Smithsonian Institution upon the Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World, a series of regional volcano catalogs

published by the (IAVCEI) beginning in 1951. The SI database is available online at http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/summary.xls .

A comparison conducted in October 2009 revealed significant differences between the latest version of the SI database online and the one used by VAAC Montréal. Examples are presented in

International Civil Aviation Organization

WORKING PAPER

IAVWOPSG/518/11/09

INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP

Improvement of the format and content of all volcanic ash related messages

STANDARDIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL VOLCANO DATABASE USED BY VAACS

volcano database 1 (Template for advisory for volcanic

ash); 2) proposes that the Smithsonian Institution volcano database be used for

n international database by all VAACs; 4) identifies a need to

1 of Annex 3 requires VAACs to use the name and International y of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) volcano number as the

maintained and updated regularly by the Smithsonian Institution Active Volcanoes of the World, a series of regional volcano catalogs

. The SI database is available online at

A comparison conducted in October 2009 revealed significant differences between the latest version of the SI database online and the one used by VAAC Montréal. Examples are presented in

IAVWOPSG/5-WP/33 /11/09

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1.4 This problem is likely present at other VAACs as well. Even if one VAAC uses the most recent version of the database, differences may exist if a neighbouring VAAC uses an older version.

1.5 There is a clear need to discuss / coordinate the use of a common database by the VAACs as input to Table A2-1 to ensure consistency in the volcano information.

2. DISCUSSION

2.1 It is our view that VAACs should use a common database as the source of volcano information. With this in mind, we ask the Meeting to consider endorsing the following 1) the IAVCEI volcano database is the one maintained by the SI; 2) the SI database is the official source of volcano information for Table A2-1. If not, we ask the Meeting to propose alternative solutions.

2.2 If the Meeting endorses the proposal above, the following technical and practical points will have to be considered:

a) the SI database contains accentuated characters in volcano names such as ‘’è’’ (Soufrière Hills) and ‘’ö’’ (Grimsvötn). The only characters allowed for AFTN (Annex 10 Aeronautical Telecommunications Vol. II) are:

The WMO Information System (WIS) only permits the following characters: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 + - . / =;

b) the SI database uses decimal degrees for volcano locations whereas element 5 of Table A2-1 is in degrees and minutes;

c) the SI database contains ''-'' and ''='' at the end of some of the volcano numbers (see http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcanocriteria.cfm). In April 2009, a member of the IAVWOPSG pointed out that the use of ''='' in the Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) caused some automated bulletin decoding systems to stop since ''='' is also used to indicate ''end of bulletin''. Following an email exchange with the members of the

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IAVWOPSG, it was agreed that the ''-'' and ''='' in the volcano name would not be included in the VAA. However, this is not formally documented and needs to be;

d) one possible option to deal with the above 3 points might be to approach the SI about the possibility of producing a version of the database specific to the VAAC needs (i.e. without accentuated characters and with the proper format for locations);

e) the frequency at which VAACs should / would update their database needs to be examined and discussed. It would depend to a certain degree on how often the SI database is updated. However, in practice, it may not be realistic to expect the VAACs to do this more than perhaps once year or so. Ideally, all VAACs should update at about the same time;

f) there is a need to document all the above points, as they can easily be forgotten or lost with changes of IAVWOPSG members and staff at VAACs. The Handbook of the IAVW is well suited for this; and

g) note 1 at the end of Table A2-1 currently only applies to element 4 (name of volcano). To ensure consistency among the VAACs, it should be applied to elements 5 to 7 (location, state or region and elevation) as well. Appendix 2 suggests modifications the Table to reflect this. A modification to the wording of note 1 is also proposed.

2.3 Except for g) above, none of the points discussed in Section 2 require an amendment to Annex 3. They can therefore be worked on right away if the IAVWOPSG agrees that it is worth the effort. The common database and related application criteria defined by the Group could then be applied by the VAACs as soon as feasible upon approval, without the delays in implementation imposed by amendment schedules of Annex 3.

2.4 We consulted with the SI (Richard Wunderman) and it expressed its support to produce a volcano database adapted to the needs of the VAACs if recommended by the Meeting.

2.5 The Group may wish to agree that there is a need for a standardized, international volcano database to be used by all VAACs and to formulate the following conclusion:

Conclusion 5/.. — Standardization of international volcano database

That,

a) the Smithsonian Institution database be used as the official source of volcano information for Table A2-1; and

b) the IAVWOPSG Members from Canada, IUGG, in coordination with the other VAACs; and

1) evaluate the practical aspects of this how might be applied by all VAACs and coordinate with the SI;

2) propose changes to Handbook on the IAVW to document this; and

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3) report on progress to IAVWOPSG/6 or earlier.

3. ACTION BY THE IAVWOPSG

3.1 The IAVWOPSG is invited to:

a) discuss the information provided in this paper; and

b) consider, in light of the information presented, whether the suggested conclusion is appropriate.

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IAVWOPSG/5-WP/33 Appendix

APPENDIX

APPENDIX 1: Examples of differences between the 14 September 2009 version of the Smithsonian Institution online database (‘’NEW’’) and the version used by Montreal VAAC (‘’OLD’’). Example 1: Differences in longitude and elevation For Karymsky: OLD : 1000-13=: Karymsky :Kamchatka :54.050000:N:159.430000:E: 1486 NEW : 1000-13=: Karymsky :Kamchatka :54.050000:N:159.450000:E: 1536 Example 2: Differences in volcano name for a given reference number and coordinates: OLD : 0203-001: Rusekere :Africa-C : 0.730000:N: 30.380000:E: 1615 NEW : 0203-001: Fort Portal :Africa-C : 0.700000:N: 30.250000:E: 1615 Note: Volcano Rusekere is not in NEW database Example 3: See image on next page. The differences between the OLD (on the left) and NEW (on the right) database are highlighted in orange. We note, among other things, differences in the spelling of volcano names (Soufriere Hills (OLD) and Soufrière Hills (NEW); Sheveluch (OLD) and Shiveluch (NEW); Grimsvotn (OLD) and Grimsvötn (NEW)) and the location of Cleveland volcano. Also, the Region ‘’Kuril Is’’ (OLD) is now ‘’Kurile Is’’ (NEW).

IAVWOPSG/5-WP/33 Appendix

A-2

A-3

IAVWOPSG/5-WP/33 Appendix

APPENDIX 2: PROPOSED CHANGES TO TABLE A2-1: The following shows the current text in Amendment 74 (November 2007) and the proposed changes for Amendment 75 (November 2010) in black strikethrough and / or black shadow but only for elements 4 to 7 and note 1. The proposed changes in this paper are highlighted in red.

Table A2-1. Template for advisory message for volcanic ash Key: M = inclusion mandatory, part of every message; O = inclusion optional; = = a double line indicates that the text following it should be placed on the subsequent line.

Element Detailed content Template(s) Examples

4 Name of volcano (M)

Name and IAVCEI1 number of volcano

VOLCANO: nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn [nnnnnn] or UNKNOWN or UNNAMED

VOLCANO: VOLCANO:

USUZAN 805-03 UNNAMEDKNOWN

5 Location of volcano (M)

Location of volcano in degrees and minutes1

PSN: Nnnnn or Snnnn Wnnnnn or Ennnnn or UNKNOWN or UNNAMED

PSN: PSN:

N4230 E14048 UNKNOWN

6 State or region (M)

State, or region if ash is not reported over a State1

AREA: nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn AREA: JAPAN

7 Summit elevation (M)

Summit elevation in m (or ft) 1

SUMMIT ELEV: nnnnM (or nnnnnFT) SUMMIT ELEV: 732M

Notes.— 1. International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI). The volcano database is maintained by the Smithsonian Institution.

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