IAVCEI 2013 Scientific Assembly - July 20 - 24, Kagoshima, Japan
Forecasting Volcanic Activity - Reading and translating the messages of nature for society

1A2_4F-O1Room A6

Date/Time: July 21 10:45-11:00

Outcomes of the International Volcanic Ash Task Force 2010 2012
Andrew Tupper1 , Peter Lechner2 , Greg Brock3 , Raul Romero3 , Herbert Puempel4 , Marianne Guffanti5 ,Larry Mastin5 , Chris Newhall6
1Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, 2 Civil Aviation Authority, New Zealand, 3 International Civil Aviation
Organization, Canada, 4 World Meteorological Organization, Switzerland, 5 United States GeologicalSurvey, United States, 6 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
E-mail: a.tupper@bom.gov.au

The International Volcanic Ash Task Force (IVATF) was established by the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) in May 2010 in response to the significant disruptions of civil aviation that resulted from the eruption ofEyjafjallajokull. Working in a complementary capacity to the existing ICAO International Airways Volcano Watch(IAVW) Operations Group (IAVWOPSG), the task force was principally tasked to assist in the urgent developmentof a global safety risk management framework that would make it possible to determine the safe levels of operationin airspace contaminated by volcanic ash. Recognizing the multi-disciplinary nature of the issues highlighted
during the eruption, the IVATF adopted a project management approach and principally worked through four
programme sub-groups (atmospheric sciences, airworthiness, and air traffic management, and another sub-groupfocused on IAVW coordination).

More than 100 experts nominated by countries (States) and internationalorganizations contributed depending on their particular area of expertise. The IVATF produced a significant numberof recommendations, including furthering efforts to monitor volcanoes on the ground, improve eruption detection
and measurement capability, improve knowledge and use of eruption source parameters, and collect and use
relevant meteorological data.

Specifically, in regard to volcano observatory arrangements, the IVATF proposed amendments to internationallyagreed guidance on services for International Air Navigation to ensure appropriate volcanic eruption monitoring,
volcano observatory response and notification within the International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW). In addition,
the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will be conducting, through Regional Offices and with theassistance of concerned Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs), three Special Implementation Projects in 2012
(in the African, European, and Central American and Caribbean Regions) targeted at States which maintainvolcano observatories to assist them in ensuring the effective implementation of the IAVW arrangements andassociated ICAO provisions.

In June 2012, after four major meetings and intensive work by correspondence, the task force delivered its
results and was dissolved. Further work will be carried out by other ICAO groups, and by the WMO IUGG Volcanic
Ash Scientific Advisory Group. However, the active involvement of States and State Volcano Observatories in theglobal effort to build eruption observation and prediction capacity is critical to the success of these efforts.

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