"Hazard Mitigation: Volcán Barú, Panama" By Julie A. Herrick A review of mitigation efforts at the potentially active volcano, Volcán Barú. Historical seismicity, geologic mapping, lahar flow modeling, recent studies, and international efforts have developed hazard preparedness within the Chiriqui Province of western Panama."

1. Hazard Mitigation:
Volcán Barú, Panama
International Collaboration
Julie A. Herrick
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Panama

2. Outline:
 Volcanic Hazards
 Worldwide
 Events and Products
 Strongest Impact
 Monitoring Methods
 Invitation to Panama
 Natural Hazards Volcán Barú Hazard Zones,USGS 2007.
 Authorities
 Mitigation Activities Nationwide
 Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction
 Volcanic hazards in western Panama
 Field Methods
 Frequency of events
 Ongoing Collaboration

3. Volcanism Worldwide
Less than half of the world’s
active volcanoes are currently
monitored.
In under-developed countries:
•82% of active volcano
locations
•86% of volcano-related deaths
between 1600 AD and 1982
(Lockwood, 2010; Chester, 1993)
(Siebert et al. 2010)
Volcán Barú, Panama

4. Volcanic Hazards Worldwide
 Events Each Century
~60 events that pose a threat to
aviation
~60 events related to lava flows
~20 events related to lahars,
pyroclastic flows/surges
~0.5-1.0 events related to structural
collapse (e.g. sector failure)
(Chester, 1993)
Unzen Complex above Shimabara, Japan
(Takashi Yamada, 1992).

5. Volcanic Hazards Worldwide
 Fatal Events (1600 to 1982)
0.4% from lava flows
19% from tsunamis
30% from lahars, avalanches,
pyroclastic flows/surges
(Chester, 1993)
Ashfall from Pinatubo, Philippines.
(USGS, 1991).
Buried to the roofline, children standing on a school’s roof above
lahar flows from Pinatubo, Philippines.
(USGS, 1991).

6. Hazard Forecasting
(Ewert et al. 2005)
“Keeping Monitoring as Simple as Practical”
(Swanson, 1995)

7. The Republic of Panama
*

8. Panama’s Three Primary
Volcanic Centers
Canal

9. Mitigation Authorities
 University of Panama
 Sinaproc
 National System of Civil Protection
 Senacyt
 National Council of Science and Technology
 CEPREDENAC
 Center of Natural Disaster Prevention in Central America
 OSOP
 Seismic Observatory of Western Panama

10. Seismic Hazards
Orange and red points are ≥6.0 magnitude events.
(UTP & Sinaproc)

11. Volcanic Hazards: Chiriquí Province
International effort of IAVCEI,
“Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction”
 Pro-active regional participant,
CEPREDENAC
 Significant, recent events:
 Mount St. Helens, Nevado de
Ruiz, Cameroon, Pinatubo, Unzen

12. First Report: Identification and Assessment
 Mitigation at Volcán Barú, 1992
 Volcanic region supports major agriculture and tourism
 “Economic risk”
 Davíd, the 2nd largest populated center in the country is
downslope
 “Vulnerability”
 High precipitation rates proximal to the edifice
 “Natural climate”
 Established general stratigraphy of the volcano with K/Ar
dating
 Calculated the lower limit for the volcano’s age
 Formalized action plan
 Inter-agency communication in Panamanian

13. Hazard Zones
Products from assessments by
the US-based Volcano
Disaster Assistance Program,
“VDAP.”
(Sherrod et al. 2007)

14. Crisis Response
“Earthquake activity beneath Panama's Baru
Volcano in May 2006 served as a reminder
that the slumbering volcano, long thought to
be dormant by local residents, might one day
reawaken. English News Panama 3/5/2008”
Collaboration:
 Senacyt/US AID providing funding
 USGS consulting and VDAP visit, equipment loan, and training
 Sinaproc
 Universtiy of Panama
 Local community members

15. Volcán Barú’s Timeline
(Sherrod et al. 2007)

16. Volcán Barú: Collapsed Edifice
(1) Caisán Collapse; (2) Barriles Collapse
Original Photo by K. Johnson (1995)

17. Mount St. Helens: Collapsed Edifice
Photographed on Sept. 10, 1980; the collapsed profile is outlined in black.

18. Communication
Informational meetings held with local authorities,
Civil Protection of the Chiriqui Province, Sept., 2009.
Ron and Kim Miller at an avalanche outcrop,
Gariché Ranch, Feb., 2009.

19. Field Methods
In the stratigraphy:
A: The Barriles Deposit,
the “young” deposit.
B: Sedimentary beds of
fine sand and clay.
C: The Caisan Deposit,
the “old” unit.
Scarp height: 15 meters

20. Volume Calculations
Barriles Volume: 34 km^3 Caisan Deposit: 53 km^3

21. Radiocarbon Sampling:
Barriles Deposit 3-120 meters thick:
Sample GPS072 8,000 ±30 ybp
Sample GPS309 8,590 ±50 ybp
Caisán Deposit 4.5-128 meters thick:
Sample GPS065 43,350 ±750 ybp
Sample GPS248 >43,500
Discovering wood fragments from
a broken and buried forest.
Barú, Panama 200.

22. International Collaboration
In Panama:
 Seed money for seismic monitoring
 Professional publications disseminating new data
 Volcanic history has become well-established
 New research possibilities have appeared
 Increased hazard awareness for the public

23. Thanks!
•Financial:
•NSF Partnerships in International Research and Education (0530109)
•Peace Corps Panama
•Guidance:
•Dr. William I. Rose
•Frank A. Trusdell, USGS
•Dr. John P. Lockwood
•Geology Graduate Seminar
Participants
Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge
(Hinderman, 2004).
"It should be emphasized that the short-term hazards posed by volcanoes are balanced by benefits of
volcanism and related processes over geologic time." -- Robert I.Tilling, USGS, 1985.