Post by Bozur on Mar 2, 2005 18:39:22 GMT -5
Science - Reuters
South America 'Hazard Map' to Chart Disaster Risk
By Pascal Fletcher
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - South American geologists are drawing up a regional "hazard map" pinpointing areas prone to earthquakes, landslides and volcano eruptions as world governments work to improve early warning mechanisms in the wake of the Asian tsunami.
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In a continent often hit by deadly earth tremors, giant mudslides and volcanic lava flows that sometimes wipe out whole villages, governments in the region need to think twice about where they site new communities or build roads and dams.
The so-called "hazard map" is being compiled with Canadian backing by the geological agencies of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Experts from these countries, through which the Andean mountain range runs like South America's backbone, met in Caracas this week.
"They are all Andean nations, very mountainous, and they all have volcanoes, earthquakes and landslides," said Catherine Hickson, a Geological Survey of Canada volcanologist who manages the Geoscience for Andean Communities project.
Hickson said the Canadian-funded project aimed not only to improve disaster risk assessment by governments, but also to ensure the information reached emergency managers, development planners and local communities.
Just as important as improving forecasting of earthquakes, eruptions and floods was the need to disseminate this information, forewarn the population and prepare disaster relief measures, she added.
"We are looking at monitoring for soil creep, which is the start of a landslide, or with volcanoes early warning signs such as increases in gas and temperature. Those things we can measure and give warnings to local communities," Hickson said.
TSUNAMI LESSONS
Pedro Alcantara of Argentina's geological survey office SEGEMAR said the need for improved disaster risk awareness had become more urgent following the devastating Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that left more than 300,000 dead or missing across the Indian Ocean region.
"What happened in Asia happened, but the death toll could have been less if there had been communication in good time," he said.
Hickson agreed: "There's the tragedy, there was plenty of time to evacuate people from coastal areas, but there were no systems in place to actually accomplish that."
The geologists said the South American "hazard map" could be used by government planners to re-locate communities at risk from natural disasters and also to site new developments in areas free from danger.
"What we're trying to do is raise the awareness of the politicians by saying, 'Look you guys, if you build this road, the probability of it being wiped out in the next 10 years is 100 percent ... think again"' said Hickson.
Jesus Guerrero of Venezuela's geological institute INGEOMIN said the project suited his country's needs "like a glove."
Flooding and landfalls caused by heavy rain have killed at least 60 people in Venezuela this year, bringing back memories of a 1999 disaster in which mudslides in the central coastal state of Vargas engulfed whole villages, killing thousands.
Guerrero said Venezuela was applying the pilot early warning project in one Andean village. Inhabitants there wanted to settle in an area where sediment from a 1947 mudslide had accumulated, creating the risk of another landslide.
The Canadian International Development Agency was providing just over a third of the 35 million Canadian dollar ($28 million) budget for the Andean project, while the seven participating nations were putting in the rest.
South America 'Hazard Map' to Chart Disaster Risk
By Pascal Fletcher
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - South American geologists are drawing up a regional "hazard map" pinpointing areas prone to earthquakes, landslides and volcano eruptions as world governments work to improve early warning mechanisms in the wake of the Asian tsunami.
Net Calling Rocks!
Why ditching the landline, if done right, could save you a bundle. Plus, a who's who VoIP service providers.
In a continent often hit by deadly earth tremors, giant mudslides and volcanic lava flows that sometimes wipe out whole villages, governments in the region need to think twice about where they site new communities or build roads and dams.
The so-called "hazard map" is being compiled with Canadian backing by the geological agencies of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Experts from these countries, through which the Andean mountain range runs like South America's backbone, met in Caracas this week.
"They are all Andean nations, very mountainous, and they all have volcanoes, earthquakes and landslides," said Catherine Hickson, a Geological Survey of Canada volcanologist who manages the Geoscience for Andean Communities project.
Hickson said the Canadian-funded project aimed not only to improve disaster risk assessment by governments, but also to ensure the information reached emergency managers, development planners and local communities.
Just as important as improving forecasting of earthquakes, eruptions and floods was the need to disseminate this information, forewarn the population and prepare disaster relief measures, she added.
"We are looking at monitoring for soil creep, which is the start of a landslide, or with volcanoes early warning signs such as increases in gas and temperature. Those things we can measure and give warnings to local communities," Hickson said.
TSUNAMI LESSONS
Pedro Alcantara of Argentina's geological survey office SEGEMAR said the need for improved disaster risk awareness had become more urgent following the devastating Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that left more than 300,000 dead or missing across the Indian Ocean region.
"What happened in Asia happened, but the death toll could have been less if there had been communication in good time," he said.
Hickson agreed: "There's the tragedy, there was plenty of time to evacuate people from coastal areas, but there were no systems in place to actually accomplish that."
The geologists said the South American "hazard map" could be used by government planners to re-locate communities at risk from natural disasters and also to site new developments in areas free from danger.
"What we're trying to do is raise the awareness of the politicians by saying, 'Look you guys, if you build this road, the probability of it being wiped out in the next 10 years is 100 percent ... think again"' said Hickson.
Jesus Guerrero of Venezuela's geological institute INGEOMIN said the project suited his country's needs "like a glove."
Flooding and landfalls caused by heavy rain have killed at least 60 people in Venezuela this year, bringing back memories of a 1999 disaster in which mudslides in the central coastal state of Vargas engulfed whole villages, killing thousands.
Guerrero said Venezuela was applying the pilot early warning project in one Andean village. Inhabitants there wanted to settle in an area where sediment from a 1947 mudslide had accumulated, creating the risk of another landslide.
The Canadian International Development Agency was providing just over a third of the 35 million Canadian dollar ($28 million) budget for the Andean project, while the seven participating nations were putting in the rest.