Elinor Meredith, a postdoctoral researcher in the field of volcanic risks, has received a Veni grant from NWO for her research project IMPACT-VOLC, in which she is investigating how the societal impacts of volcanic eruptions in Europe can be better assessed and prepared for.
Volcanic eruptions can have major consequences, even far from the volcano itself. For example, the ash cloud from the 2010 eruption in Iceland brought European air traffic largely to a standstill. During the 2021 eruption on La Palma, not only was there local damage, but volcanic gases also spread across parts of Europe.
According to Meredith, the consequences of an eruption are determined not only by the volcano’s power, but also by where people live, where critical infrastructure is located, and how vulnerable those areas are. In addition, different hazards can reinforce one another. For example, heavy rainfall can cause volcanic material to cause more damage.
With IMPACT-VOLC, Elinor Meredith is taking a new approach. Instead of merely investigating where volcanic hazards might strike, she focuses on the conditions under which these hazards actually lead to societal disruption. In doing so, she also takes future developments into account, such as population growth and the expansion of infrastructure.
The research brings together various risks into practical scenarios, maps, and analytical tools. This enables emergency services, volcano observatories, and land-use planners to better assess where the greatest risks will arise in the future and how they can prepare for them. In this way, the research can contribute to better disaster response plans, more targeted land-use decisions, and greater societal resilience to volcanic risks.