Requirements of Local Governments and Presses on Volcano Information

Abstract

User requirements on volcano information published regularly or extraordinary by Japan Meteorological Agency have been surveyed by means of interviews and questionnaires since 2001 fiscal year in order to grasp issues on the volcano information and to find keys to improve them. Questionnaire entries of the series of survey include that those asking issues of volcano information published during volcanic crises of both Usu Volcano and Miyakejima Volcano in 2000. This paper unveils the results of the series of survey targeting local govemments and presses.

After analysis of the series of survey data, users' expectation of unhesitating publishing volcano information in emergency is observed. Then, we identified the main issue on volcano information from viewpoints of local governments and presses as users of it; that many users find difficulties in understanding volcano information. According by the analysis of the series of survey data, we conclude that the difficulties in understanding are specifically caused by following contributing factors; (1) needs to be improved in usage of terms and ways of presentation, (2) insufficient explanation of volcanic information to users, (3) lack of interpretation and prospect about volcanic activities and (4) incomprehension of necessary basic terms for explaining various volcanic phenomena.