Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Science advice in situations of crisis
Professor Anne Glover CBE
Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Eyjafjallajökull eruption Iceland, April 2010
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Volcanic ash under the microscope
Image credit: University of Alaska / US Geological Survey
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Modern jet engine
Image credit: inventors.about.com
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Melted volcanic ash clogging the vanes needed for cooling the engine
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Abrasion caused by ash in jet engines
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Atmospheric modelling of JRC
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
The closure of European airspace caused significant economic damage
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Lessons learned • Gathering the scientific evidence was not easy because of the
many disciplines involved (geology, atmospheric physics, engineering, economics….)
• Modelling is important, but cannot replace in situ observations (e.g. using LIDAR, research planes), in order to deliver convincing arguments
• There were different interpretations of what are "safe ash concentrations to fly" – ICAO delivered guidelines only in 2012
• Politics applied the precautionary principle in the absence of sufficiently reliable information
• Due to the fragmentation of European airspace it was very difficult to have a coordinated response
• Having clear-cut communication channels (e.g. via a CSA) was essential
• The event raised awareness for societal vulnerabilities
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
Notifying authority
Name: Iceland
Institution: Directorate of Health (Iceland)
Event information
Posted on: 18/08/2014
Message
Type:
Threat of environmental origin
Message
Content:
Alert notification (article 9 a,b,c)
Notification
Criteria:
it grows rapidly or may grow rapidly in scale and
it affects or may affect more than one Member State
Mail Sent
to:
European Commission, Public Health Authorities and ECDC
MESSAGE:
Ever increasing earthquake activity in Northern Vatnajökull
glacier the last 48 hours indicate a high possibility for a volcanic
activity.
The outcome could be disastrous if the eruption is under the
glacier causing flooding and an ash cloud interfering with
international air traffic. If the eruption is outside the glacier
consequences may of a lesser scale.
The development can be followed at this link from the Icelandic
Met Office: http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/nr/2938
Are we prepared?
Icelandic Met Office, 23/08/2014
Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014
E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: EU_ScienceChief
Thank you for your attention!
Top Related