Chemistry of Volcanic Gases

The Commission on the Chemistry of Volcanic Gases (CCVG) is a sub-commission of IAVCEI, that was formed in the early 1980's to bring together volcanologists and geochemists interested in the study of volcanic gas compositions. Since then nine field workshops have taken place to sample volcanic gases and compare sampling and analytical techniques of the various participating groups. The results of these workshops have been distributed through two peer-reviewed publications: Giggenbach and Matsuo (1991) and Giggenbach et al. (2001) and numerous newsletters.

Committee on Cities and Volcanoes

The Cities and Volcanoes Commission aims to provide a linkage between the volcanology community and emergency managers, to serve as a conduit for exchange of ideas and experience between "volcano cities", and promote multi-disciplinary applied research, involving the collaboration of physical and social scientists and city officials.

COSIV-Statistics inVolcanology

The IAVCEI Commission on Statistics in Volcanology (COSIV) was established in 2007 to foster statistical analysis of volcanological data. In the last decade or so, researchers have begun to exploit a wide range of analytical and statistical methods for dealing with stochastic and distributed datasets. This represents a major step forward within physical volcanological modelling as we move to a new generation of probabilistic or statistical models. The primary aim of all this new activity is to develop rigorous methods for quantifying the likelihood of outcomes given the set of current and past observations.

Commission on Collapse Calderas

New IAVCEI Commission on Collapse Calderas Volcanism. The Executive Committee and Secretary General of IAVCEI have approved the creation of a new Commission on Collapse Calderas Volcanism, which started originally in 2005 as the Working Group on Collapse Calderas. This commission includes a wide spectrum of topics, such as caldera geology, geophysics, numerical and analogic modeling, subcaldera magma chamber processes, volcanic hazard and risk management, economic benefits and environmental research, and thus epitomizes the spirit of the original workgroup of an interdisciplinary interaction to solve the many outstanding questions regarding the formation of collapse calderas, their evolution, and the application to society of caldera volcanism knowledge. However there is room for incorporation of additional lines of research in the future and these are more than welcome to add additional flavor to the commission. The group that now form this new commission includes renowned scientists as well as a number of young emerging researchers and recent graduates. Our group is quite active and we want to keep growing, meeting, and willing to collaborate actively. This new commission shares a common drive to learn more on caldera volcanism and to publish results in journals and in the form of books.
Please, visit our website ( http://www.gvb-csic.es/CCC.htm ) and contact us if you wish to become a member of this commission ( Gerardo Aguirre and Adelina Geyer).

Commission on Explosive Volcanism

The primary aims of the Commission are: (1) to foster modern, process-oriented studies of pyroclastic rocks, (2) to encourage communication between scientists from the various branches of research directed to such studies, (3) to provide input into other areas such as volcanic hazards and atmospheric impacts, and (4) to promote interest in explosive volcanism and its products. Research interests focus on the processes of explosive eruptions, volcano evolution, and magmatic influences on eruption dynamics.

Commission on Granites

Commission on Large Igneous Provinces

The LIPs Commission was formed in 1993, as the scale and importance of LIPs in Earth history was appreciated, and the need for an international multidisciplinary effort recognized. Led by Drs. Mike Coffin and John Mahoney between 1993 and1998, the study of LIPs expanded, particularly that of oceanic plateaus and ocean basin flood basalts. An important publication was: Mahoney & Coffin (eds.) Large Igneous Provinces: Continental, Oceanic and Planetary Flood Volcanism. AGU Geophys. Mon. 100, 1997. From 1998 to 2003, under the leadership of Drs. Martin Menzies and John Hopper, the Commission focussed on volcanic rifted margins (including seaward dipping reflectors and high velocity lower crust).

Commission on Mitigation of Volcanic Disasters

Commission on Monogenetic Volcanism

The term monogenetic as applied to volcanic systems carries with it the concept of eruptions of batches of magma within short timescales. Monogenetic volcanism is commonly expressed as clusters of individual volcanoes forming fields of small cones which are a consequence of dispersed plumbing systems feeding discrete batches of magma to the Earth's surface. Beyond this relatively simple concept there is a wide range of temporal, spatial and compositional variables. The new IAVCEI commission, Commission on Monogenetic Volcanism (CMV) main goal is to provide a forum for researchers to define and understand the phenomenon of small volume magmatic systems and their surface expression as volcano fields. The CMV aim is to take leading role to facilitate, coordinate and focus research and research outputs in regard to monogenetic volcanism and to assist to researchers to develop a refined and unified model of this type of volcanism.

Basic scientific questions, such as the monogenetic nature of these commonly small-volume, small magma output volcanoes are currently frontline research subjects showing growing evidence to develop a more suitable and united model for the formation of these volcanoes from an interdisciplinary perspective. The IAVCEI Commission on Monogenetic Volcanism will serve a mediating and facilitating role in this scientific process as well as provide an interface to disseminate fragmented research effort to be possible to view in a broader perspective.

The coordinators of the Commission are: Dr. Karoly Nemeth (k.nemeth@massey.ac.nz); Dr. Ian E Smith (ie.smith@auckland.ac.nz) and Dr Adrian Pittari (apittari@waikato.ac.nz ) 

Web link: www.massey.ac.nz/CMV [will be alive from 1 st August 2009]

Commission on Remote Sensing

The main objetive of the Commission to promote the use of field, airborne, and spaceborne remote sensing techniques for the analysis of volcanic eruptions and the mitigation of volcanic hazards.

Commission on Arcs Magmatism

The main objetive of the Commission is to foster interaction and communication between scientists with an interest in volcanism at subduction zones. This may range from volcanological issues (including hazards, and therefore with strong links to the commission on explosive volcanism) to more academic concerns such as mass balancing components in convergent margin magmas, and evaluation of the role of such magmatism in the evolution of crust and mantle .

** State of the Arc (SOTA) 2003 **

** State of the Arc (SOTA) 2007 **

Commission on Tephra Hazard Modelling

This tephra hazard IAVCEI commission was specifically born to deal with tephra hazard issues. The primary goals of this commission are: (i) Calibrating existing models; (ii) Identifying potential improvements to existing models that would increase precision and accuracy; (iii) Compiling a comprehensive dataset for modeling validation; (iv) Defining a tephra-sampling protocol in order to standardize tephra collection and quantify the accuracy of eruptive parameters derived from field data; (v) Determining feasibility of running specific models on different types of computer systems, such as individual personal computers, parallelized clusters, or remote servers using an internationally accessible Web-based interface; (vi) Presenting the results in a framework that allows new research to be incorporated into analytical and numerical models for tephra hazard assessments.

Commission on Volcanic Lakes

The CVL has an important role to play within IAVCEI and a significant scientific mission in volcanology. Volcanic lakes are used to monitor volcanic activity, they harbour their own volcanic dangers (CO2 explosions, lahars, phreatic explosions), and may leak toxic fluids into the surface environment. In addition, they provide "deep blue" windows into the interior of volcanoes and even deeper into the magma source regions, with topical linkages towards ore deposition and geothermal energy development. Reasons enough to pay substantial attention to volcanic lakes. In addition, many global change researchers use volcanic lakes for the study of environmental change. The sedimentary records are influenced both by climatic / hydrological parameters and volcanic inputs, and the expertise of CVL members can contribute to decipher these records. It was the wisdom of the CVL originators to recognize that volcanic lake science is a special field with intertwined aspects of disciplines such as volcanology, limnology, geochemistry, and biology/toxicology.

Commission on Volcano-Ice Interactions

The Commission is charged with promoting research and interest in the complex interactions of magmas and ice in all its forms (snow, firn, ice and meltwater), on Earth and other planets. In general such interactions are referred to as glaciovolcanism .

Commission on Volcanism and the Earth's Atmosphere

Volcanoes are one of the principal natural sources of gases and particles to the Earth's atmosphere. These emissions are released both during and between eruptions, and include reactive sulphur and halogen compounds, trace metals, and ash. The VEA Commission's broad role is to stimulate research, discussion and outreach on the interactions between volcanic activity and the environment. This particularly concerns fundamental issues related to the role of volcanism in the Earth system, including the impacts of volcanic emissions of gases and particles on the atmosphere, oceans, climate, and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. For more information, contact: Clive Oppenheimer (co200@cam.ac.uk); Libby Prueher (lprueher@umich.edu)

Commission on Volcanogenic Sediments

The Commission on Volcanogenic Sediments is a vigorous, productive group that fosters common interests in research on the sedimentological aspects of volcanic phenomena. It provides a forum for discussions and workshops in the field and maintains a membership list of addresses to aid communication. Volcanogenic sediments are studied in all their aspects: origin, transport, deposition, subsequent reworking, and the different transformations that ensue. These studies are apprlicable to understanding pyroclastic and hydroclastic volcanism, as well as stratigraphic facies of reworked materials.

IAGA/IASPEI/IAVCEI Working Group on Electromagnetic Studies of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

The main purpose of EMSEV is a) To promote co-operation and collaboration between individuals and research groups, internationally, on observations and research into electric and magnetic effects associated with earthquakes and volcanoes and b) To promote the dissemination and discussion of relevant data and research results. We are active in organizing, co-sponsoring and participating meetings.   We also contribute to organise well focused small meetings in various seismo-volcanic developing countries and assist to develop integrated electromagnetic monitoring systems and data analyses.

IASPEI/IAVCEI Joint Commission on Volcano Seismology

The IASPEI/IAVCEI Joint Commission on Volcano Seismology was Founded at the XXI General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) in Boulder, Colorado, July 2-14, 1995, as a Joint Commission of theInternational Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI, #BB1344) and the International Association of Volcanolgy and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI, #BB1369). The fundamental aim of the commission is to promote volcano seismology as a tool to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of volcanoes and improve our ability to accurately predict their behaviour. The goals of the Commission are fivefold: 1. To facilitate collaborations among scientists and institutions investigating volcanic processes and structures. 2. To facilitate the transfer of knowledge, tools and training between scientists and volcano observatories, especially in developing countries. 3. To promote the use of state-of-the-art seismic equipment, such as broadband sensors and high dynamic range data loggers, in routine volcanic monitoring and seismic experiments. 4. To promote conferences, seminars and high-level education aimed at familiarising researchers with modern theoretical and experimental seismic methods used in the interpretation of volcanic processes and structures. 5. To promote funding from international organisations that could help affray travel and related expenses for the activities listed above.

IASPEI-IAVCEI Inter-Association Commission on Physical and Chemical Properties of Materials of the Earth's Interior

IAPSO/IASPEI/IAVCEI Joint Tsunami Commission

IAVCEI/IASPEI/IAPSO International Heat Flow Commission

International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN)

The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN) was launched in February 2003 through a Leverhulme Trust Research Interchange Grant. IVHHN currently involves 31 expert members from 25 international institutions and over 130 corresponding members. Members of IVHHN work in diverse scientific disciplines such as volcanology, epidemiology, toxicology, public health and physical chemistry with a common aim of trying to determine the health effects of volcanic emissions.

Volcanic Eruption Database (CEV)

Working Group on Volcano Acoustics

World Organisation of Volcano Observatories

WOVO is an organization of and for volcano observatories of the world. Members are institutions that are engaged in volcano surveillance and, in most cases, are responsible for warning authorities and the public about hazardous volcanic unrest. We aim to: stimulate communication and cooperation between observatories and institutions directly involved in volcano monitoring, develop and maintain volcano monitoring reference materials, including a Directory of member observatories, their monitoring networks and staff, upon request, to help a member observatory to find temporary scientific reinforcement, and refer governments, international organizations, and others seeking assistance in volcano monitoring to the appropriate member observatories.