World Organization of Volcanic
Observatories
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0500,
0600, 0700
Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory
Centre
Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology
PO Box 40050
Casuarina
Northern Territory
Australia 0811
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Telephone : |
61 8 8920 3826 |
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Telefax : |
61 8 8920 3829 |
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Director : |
Jim Arthur |
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Email : |
darwin.vaac.admin@bom.gov.au |
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Website : |
http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/ |
DARWIN VAAC OVERVIEW
The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre
(VAAC) is one of nine VAACs located around the world that have been established
within the framework of the International Airways Volcano Watch (IAVW).
The VAAC is a component of the Darwin Regional Forecasting Centre located in
the Northern Territory Regional Office of the Commonwealth Bureau of
Meteorology. VAAC duties are performed by meteorologists, in addition to
the routine weather analysis, forecasting and warning activities undertaken by
the office.
The IAVW was established by the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the World Meteorological
Organisation (WMO) in response to the recognition of the hazard volcanic ash
clouds pose to aircraft and human safety, and sets out arrangements between
volcanological, aeronautical and meteorological organisations to facilitate the
provision of warnings to aircraft on the presence of ash in the atmosphere.
The Darwin VAAC monitors satellite imagery
for volcanic ash clouds 24 hours a day, and also receives reports of volcanic
activity from volcanological agencies and aircraft operating in the area.
The volcanological agencies within the Darwin VAAC area of responsibility are
the Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation of Indonesia,
the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, and the Rabaul Volcano
Observatory.
When volcanic ash is detected or reported,
the Darwin VAAC issues a Volcanic Ash Advisory. This message contains
information on the current distribution of ash and its forecast movement during
the following 18 hours. These Advisories are designed to be used by the
appropriate Meteorological Watch Office as guidance when preparing Volcanic Ash
SIGMETs - the official aviation warning. The Volcanic Ash Advisories are
also disseminated directly to the aviation community to allow then to begin
re-routing aircraft as soon as possible. The latest Volcanic Ash
Advisories can also be found on the Darwin VAAC web page.
The areas of responsibility for the Darwin
and other VAAC’s may be found at: http://www.icao.int/anb/iavwopsg/
Information updated
August 2004
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