The European Network of Observatories and Research Infrastructures for Volcanology (EUROVOLC) is a H2020 Research and Innovation Project of the European Commission. It will construct an integrated and harmonized European volcanological community able to fully support, exploit and build-upon existing and emerging national and pan-European research infrastructures, including e-Infrastructures of the European Supersite volcanoes. The harmonization includes linking scientists and stakeholders and connecting still isolated volcanological infrastructures located at in situ volcano observatories (VO) and volcanological research institutions (VRIs).
For this purpose, EUROVOLC will carry out Networking and Joint Research activities, and offer Trans-national and Virtual Access to the main European Volcano Observatories and Volcano Research Infrastructures. These activities will address four broad transversal Themes – ‘Community building, Volcano-Atmosphere interaction, Sub-surface progress, and Volcanic crisis preparedness and risk management’ of particular interest to the overall Earth Science community.
Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores, CIVISA, is a full partner of the EUROVOLC project. Our team includes several scientists and specialists from different research areas and our contribution to this project is represented through the active participation in 8 Work Packages. More specifically, CIVISA leads one WP (WP11) and one Task (Task 5.1 from WP5), and participates in eight WPs of the project. Our participation revolves primarily around providing trans-national access to the Azores Volcano Observatory, an infrastructure integrated in the CIVISA and, together with the Instituto de Investigação em Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos, IVAR, is responsible for the assessment and monitoring of natural hazards, as well as the operation of different monitoring networks.
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EUROVOLC consortium includes volcano observatories in Europe responsible for surveillance of volcanoes and for providing advice on their activity in Italy, Iceland, Portugal (the Azores), Spain (Canary Islands), Greece (volcanic islands) and France (overseas territories), as well as additional partners responsible for providing advice to authorities on volcanic risk and hazard. This consortium of VOs comprises all volcano observatories in Europe (see Figure below).
Geographical distribution of European volcanoes (red circles): on the European continents,
plus Canary islands (left) and in overseas countries (right)