Hazard predictions for volcanic explosions

We have developed a method of producing hazard maps for volcanic eruptions using three-dimensional numerical simulations. Numerical simulations of sho ck-wave interactions with terrain were carried out assuming the volcanic ex plosion is analogous to point source explosions. The point source explosion model is coupled with scaling distances for pyroclastic-surge and ballisti c fragments to produce hazard maps of the damage done both by shock waves a nd volcanic debris. The numerical method is applied to Iwatesan volcano, wh ich recently became active. We demonstrate that the present method of produ cing hazard maps is useful for establishing better safety countermeasures f or volcanic eruptions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.