Awareness and risk perception on communities located near active volcanoes: Methodology applied on Caviahue-Copahue area (Argentina).

.- CASELLI, A T., M L. JOVER, D L. SIERRA, C L. BENGOA, M R. AGUSTO, M L. VÉLEZ

Tenerife

Congreso; Cities on volcanoes; 2010

ITER

th ent a model program designed to inform and promote the interest in volcanoes an th towns popula eruptiv progra eviden inform studen topics monito volcan expan distrib charac believe comm popula Awareness and risk perception on communities located near active volcanoes: Methodology d on Caviahue-Copahue area (Argentina) Aerto T. Caselli1, María L. Jover1, Diana L. Sierra1, Cintia L. Bengoa1, Mariano R. Agusto1, L. Vélez1 1 Grupo de Estudio y Seguimiento de Volcanes Activos, Departamento Ciencias Geológicas, FCE y versidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab.2, 1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina rto Tomás Case acaselli@gl session 2.3 Inis work we pres deir characteristics, in communities located near active volcanoes. Caviahue and Copahue (Argentina) are located near Copahue volcano (6 and 2 Km., respectively) and have a stable tion of about 600 people, being tourism their main source of income. This volcano has a recent e history (1992, 1995 and 2000), both communities have not been exposed to systematic ms of information about the characteristics of the volcanic area where they live, this fact was ced in the confusion and fear shown during the eruption on 2000. In this regard, and in order to about the risks and benefits of living in a volcanic area, a competition was organized, with ts of the public school, to prepare a diffusion brochure for visitors to the area on three main (a) environmental characteristics, (b) how to act before the contingency, (c) the studies to r an active volcano. Previously workshops were organized to provide information on general ology and the Copahue volcano characteristics in particular. With this information and ded on the web, xx brochures were made up and three of them were selected to be printed and uted among tourists this year. Students were chosen as major receivers to possess ideal teristics to support long-term activities as well as their ability of transmission to adults. Thus we that was achieved: (a) knowledge and awareness in children and through them to the unity about the risks of living on a volcano, (b) information and awareness to tourists (transient tion) who visit place, (c) to bring scientists into the community.