| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 MB | Adobe PDF |
Authors
Abstract(s)
O arquipélago dos Açores encontra-se sujeito a um enquadramento geodinâmico que origina uma região ativa no que concerne à atividade sísmica e vulcânica. Desde o seu povoamento, os Açores já foram palco de pelo menos 28 erupções vulcânicas, tendo algumas destas causado prejuízos significativos. Atualmente, existem 18 sistemas vulcânicos ativos subaéreos e alguns deles foram, inclusivamente, palco de crises sismovulcânicas recentes (e.g. Fogo-Congro, 2005; São Jorge, 2022; Santa Bárbara, 2022), sendo expectável que no futuro ocorram crises semelhantes que poderão ou não resultar numa erupção vulcânica.
Apesar do vulcanismo ativo ser uma realidade presente nos Açores, o planeamento específico para o risco vulcânico é escasso e, atualmente, a nível de proteção civil não existem procedimentos estabelecidos que devam ser desencadeados face aos níveis de alerta científico para a caracterização do estado de atividade sismovulcânica na região dos Açores. Assim, mostra-se essencial abordar a relação entre os níveis de alerta científico para a atividade sismovulcânica e as ações de proteção civil a desencadear.
O Vulcão do Fogo, localizado na parte central da ilha de São Miguel, é um dos três vulcões centrais com caldeira ativos na ilha e onde já se registaram pelo menos seis erupções explosivas traquíticas nos últimos cinco mil anos. Através da sua história eruptiva foi possível averiguar os impactos e a abrangência dos produtos das suas erupções, que normalmente envolvem uma diversidade de estilos e perigos vulcânicos. Para o desenvolvimento da dissertação, optou-se por utilizar um cenário eruptivo com base no cenário mais provável para uma erupção vulcânica no Vulcão do Fogo, alusivo à erupção de 1563.
A análise das vulnerabilidades e dos elementos expostos presentes na região do Fogo aos produtos do cenário eruptivo considerado, em que se destacam os piroclastos de queda, possibilitou a identificação de possíveis implicações nas ações de proteção civil a desenvolver. O resultado desta análise demonstrou que um evento desta natureza, mesmo numa fase precedente, é capaz de provocar impactos e constrangimentos significativos à população, edificado e infraestruturas críticas, especialmente, na rede viária densa existente no setor central e que liga os polos mais extremos da ilha.
Com a exposição sobre a gestão de crises vulcânicas, averiguou-se a complexidade em lidar com a gestão de fenómenos vulcânicos, seja devido às suas características intrínsecas, como aos fatores externos que podem injetar dificuldades acrescidas aos decisores. Além disso, ficou patente a importância da interação entre os vários envolvidos para a mitigação do risco vulcânico, tal como a importância da eficácia da comunicação entre estes. Foi possível destacar ainda a relação crucial entre os cientistas, responsáveis pela monitorização e divulgação da informação sobre o estado de atividade dos sistemas vulcânicos, e as autoridades de proteção civil, incumbidos de implementar as ações de resposta e medidas de mitigação ao risco vulcânico. A referência ao sistema de proteção civil dos Açores, permitiu entender as responsabilidades e os papéis atribuídos aos principais envolvidos na resposta a uma crise vulcânica nos Açores.
Após desenvolvido o cenário, onde se incluiu a definição dos momentos expectáveis para a alteração dos níveis de alerta científico vulcânico, procedeu-se à discussão sobre a resposta operacional mais adequada para acompanhar a informação científica. O resultado deste exercício demonstrou que a resposta de proteção civil deve corresponder a um processo gradual, ponderado e indicou para a necessidade de uma interpretação ajustada da situação que resulta, consequentemente, da tradução da informação científica. Efetivamente, foi possível concluir que as ações de proteção civil mais eficazes na mitigação do risco vulcânico não são imediatas, pois requerem uma preparação progressiva do sistema de proteção civil que, para o efeito, deve agir sobre as alterações detetadas pelos cientistas desde um nível de alerta vulcânico mais baixo. Este trabalho permitiu ainda estabelecer uma ligação entre cada nível de alerta da escala científica e o conjunto de ações de resposta e medidas de mitigação da proteção civil a desenvolver. Contudo, foi possível reconhecer a complexidade e a incerteza inerente a estes fenómenos que, aliada à natureza essencialmente política das decisões que comportam custos socioeconómicos elevados, tornam a gestão de crises vulcânicas em qualquer sistema de proteção civil, um desafio particularmente exigente.
ABSTRACT: The Azores archipelago is subject to a geodynamic framework that causes an active region regarding seismic and volcanic activity. Since its settlement, the Azores have been the scene of at least 28 volcanic eruptions, some of which have caused significant damage. Currently, there are 18 active subaerial volcanic systems and some of them have even been the scene of recent seismovolcanic crises (e.g. Fogo-Congro, 2005; São Jorge, 2022; Santa Bárbara, 2022), and it is expected that similar crises will occur in the future that could or not result in a volcanic eruption. Although active volcanism is a reality in the Azores, specific planning for volcanic risk is scarce and, currently, at the level of civil protection there are no established procedures that should be triggered considering the scientific volcanic alert levels in the Azores region. Therefore, it is essential to address the relationship between scientific alert levels for volcanic activity and the civil protection actions to be taken. The Fogo Volcano, located in the central part of São Miguel Island, is one of the three active central caldera volcanoes on the island where at least six trachytic explosive eruptions have been recorded in the last five thousand years. Through its eruptive history it was possible to learn the impacts and scope of the products of its eruptions, which normally involve a diversity of volcanic styles and hazards. For the development of this dissertation, we chose to use an eruptive scenario based on the most likely scenario for a volcanic eruption at Fogo Volcano, referring to the 1563 eruption. The analysis of the vulnerabilities and exposed elements present in the Fogo region to the products of the eruptive scenario considered, made it possible to identify possible implications for the civil protection actions to be developed. The result of this analysis demonstrated that an event of this nature, even in a previous phase, can cause significant impacts and constraints on the population, buildings, and critical infrastructures, especially on the dense road network present in the central sector and which connects the most extreme poles of the island. With the presentation on volcanic crises management, the complexity of dealing with the management of volcanic phenomena was revealed, whether due to their intrinsic characteristics or to external factors that can inject additional difficulties for decision-makers. Furthermore, the importance of the interaction between the various sides involved in mitigating volcanic risk was clear, as was the importance of effective communication between them. It was also possible to highlight the crucial relationship between scientists, responsible for monitoring and disseminating information about the state of activity of volcanic systems, and civil protection authorities, responsible for implementing response actions and mitigation measures to volcanic risk. The reference to the Azorean civil protection system allowed us to understand the responsibilities and roles attributed to the main participants involved in responding to a volcanic crisis in the Azores. After developing the scenario, which included the definition of the expected moments for changes in volcanic scientific alert levels, a discussion began on the most appropriate operational response to attend the scientific information. The result of this exercise demonstrated that the civil protection response must correspond to a gradual, careful process and indicated the need for an adjusted interpretation of the situation that results, consequently, from the translation of scientific information. In fact, it was possible to conclude that the most effective civil protection actions in mitigating volcanic risk are not immediate, as they require progressive preparation of the civil protection system which, for this purpose, must act on the changes detected by scientists from the lowest volcanic alert level. This work also made it possible to establish a link between each scientific volcanic alert level and the set of response actions and mitigation measures to be developed by the civil protection. However, it was possible to recognize the complexity and uncertainty inherent to these phenomena which, combined with the essentially political nature of decisions that entail high socioeconomic costs, make the management of volcanic crises in any civil protection system a particularly demanding challenge.
ABSTRACT: The Azores archipelago is subject to a geodynamic framework that causes an active region regarding seismic and volcanic activity. Since its settlement, the Azores have been the scene of at least 28 volcanic eruptions, some of which have caused significant damage. Currently, there are 18 active subaerial volcanic systems and some of them have even been the scene of recent seismovolcanic crises (e.g. Fogo-Congro, 2005; São Jorge, 2022; Santa Bárbara, 2022), and it is expected that similar crises will occur in the future that could or not result in a volcanic eruption. Although active volcanism is a reality in the Azores, specific planning for volcanic risk is scarce and, currently, at the level of civil protection there are no established procedures that should be triggered considering the scientific volcanic alert levels in the Azores region. Therefore, it is essential to address the relationship between scientific alert levels for volcanic activity and the civil protection actions to be taken. The Fogo Volcano, located in the central part of São Miguel Island, is one of the three active central caldera volcanoes on the island where at least six trachytic explosive eruptions have been recorded in the last five thousand years. Through its eruptive history it was possible to learn the impacts and scope of the products of its eruptions, which normally involve a diversity of volcanic styles and hazards. For the development of this dissertation, we chose to use an eruptive scenario based on the most likely scenario for a volcanic eruption at Fogo Volcano, referring to the 1563 eruption. The analysis of the vulnerabilities and exposed elements present in the Fogo region to the products of the eruptive scenario considered, made it possible to identify possible implications for the civil protection actions to be developed. The result of this analysis demonstrated that an event of this nature, even in a previous phase, can cause significant impacts and constraints on the population, buildings, and critical infrastructures, especially on the dense road network present in the central sector and which connects the most extreme poles of the island. With the presentation on volcanic crises management, the complexity of dealing with the management of volcanic phenomena was revealed, whether due to their intrinsic characteristics or to external factors that can inject additional difficulties for decision-makers. Furthermore, the importance of the interaction between the various sides involved in mitigating volcanic risk was clear, as was the importance of effective communication between them. It was also possible to highlight the crucial relationship between scientists, responsible for monitoring and disseminating information about the state of activity of volcanic systems, and civil protection authorities, responsible for implementing response actions and mitigation measures to volcanic risk. The reference to the Azorean civil protection system allowed us to understand the responsibilities and roles attributed to the main participants involved in responding to a volcanic crisis in the Azores. After developing the scenario, which included the definition of the expected moments for changes in volcanic scientific alert levels, a discussion began on the most appropriate operational response to attend the scientific information. The result of this exercise demonstrated that the civil protection response must correspond to a gradual, careful process and indicated the need for an adjusted interpretation of the situation that results, consequently, from the translation of scientific information. In fact, it was possible to conclude that the most effective civil protection actions in mitigating volcanic risk are not immediate, as they require progressive preparation of the civil protection system which, for this purpose, must act on the changes detected by scientists from the lowest volcanic alert level. This work also made it possible to establish a link between each scientific volcanic alert level and the set of response actions and mitigation measures to be developed by the civil protection. However, it was possible to recognize the complexity and uncertainty inherent to these phenomena which, combined with the essentially political nature of decisions that entail high socioeconomic costs, make the management of volcanic crises in any civil protection system a particularly demanding challenge.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado, Vulcanologia e Riscos Geológicos, 29 de maio de 2024, Universidade dos Açores.
Keywords
Vulcanologia Riscos Geológicos Proteção Civil Planeamento de Emergência Vulcão do Fogo
Pedagogical Context
Citation
MIRANDA, David Machado. (2023). "A Comunicação entre Cientistas e Proteção Civil nos Açores: Procedimentos Operacionais num Cenário de Crise Vulcânica no Vulcão do Fogo (São Miguel, Açores)". Ponta Delgada: Universidade dos Açores, 2023. 180 p. Dissertação de Mestrado em Vulcanologia e Riscos Geológicos. Disponível em http://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/8749