Tephra fallout probabilistic hazard maps for Cotopaxi and Guagua
Pichincha volcanoes (Ecuador) with uncertainty quantification
Abstract
Tephra fallout hazard assessment is commonly undertaken with the
development of probabilistic maps that rely on numerical models. Among
the steps for map production, the definition of input parameters of the
model (including atmospheric conditions), the physical approximations of
the numerical simulations, and the probabilities of occurrence of
different eruption types in specific time frames are among the most
critical sources of uncertainty. In this paper, we present a tephra
fallout hazard assessment study for two volcanoes (Cotopaxi and Guagua
Pichincha) in Ecuador. We utilize the coupled PLUME-MoM/HYSPLIT models,
and we develop a procedure for uncertainty quantification where: i) we
quantify the uncertainty on eruptive source parameters and eruption type
occurrence through expert elicitation; ii) we implement a new procedure
for correlations between the different parameters, and iii) we quantify
the uncertainty of the numerical model by testing it with past eruptions
and by deriving coefficients of mean model
overestimation/underestimation. Probability maps of exceedance, given a
deposit thickness threshold, and thickness maps, given a probability of
exceedence, are produced for eruption of sub-Plinian and Plinian types,
which are then merged into single maps concerning the next eruption.
These are described according to the uncertainty distribution of
eruption type occurrence probabilities, in terms of their
5th percentile, mean and 95th
percentile values. We finally present hazard curves describing exceeding
probabilities in 10 sensitive sites within the city of Quito. Additional
information includes the areal extent and the people potentially
affected by different isolines of tephra accumulation.