HATARI – Sources of seismic and volcanic hazards in the Comoros

The “HATARI – Sources of seismic and volcanic hazards in the Comoros” project is led by the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris and the Piton de la Fournaise Volcanological Observatory (OVPF-IPGP) in La Réunion Island in partnership with the Centre National de Documentation et de Recherche Scientifique des Comores (CNDRS). The project involves the Karthala Volcanological Observatory (OVK), the University of La Réunion (Geosciences Laboratory) and the Cité du Volcan (Réunion des Musées Régionaux).

The Hatari project focuses on the link between volcanism and seismicity in the Comoros archipelago. This will be done through several studies (mapping of faults and volcanic structures, geomorphology, monitoring of volcano-tectonic activity, chemistry of fluids and magmas, installation of new data collection stations on Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli), which will make it possible to establish a regional tectonic deformation model and to monitor and characterise seismic activity and establish the link with recent volcanic activity.

The project will study in detail the historical volcanic activity of Karthala volcano. It will integrate field studies, laboratory experiments, numerical modelling and reinforce continuous observations. Students from La Réunion and Comoros as well as the project staff will receive technical and scientific training. This work will be promoted in the museums dedicated to the Piton de la Fournaise in La Réunion and the Karthala at the CNDRS in the Comoros, through exhibitions and conferences.

Partners

• Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise – Institut de physique du globe de Paris (OVPF-IPGP), Université Paris Cité, CNRS
• Centre National de Documentation et de Recherche Scientifique (CNDRS) – Observatoire Volcanologique du Karthala (OVK). The main mission of the OVK is to monitor and follow up the activity related to the Karthala volcano, to promote research, to raise awareness/inform the population about the volcanic risk and to issue information on possible volcanic eruptions and their evolution.

• University of La Réunion (Geosciences Laboratory)
• La Cité du Volcan – (Réunion des Musées Régionaux, La Réunion)

Structure of the project

The project will be carried out through 3 actions:

Action 1: Tectonics

Spatialization and characterization of the sources of seismic hazards and study of the links with volcanic activity, associated with a reinforcement and extension of geophysical and geochemical networks on the Comoros archipelago.

Action 2: Volcanism

Reconstruction of the recent activity of Karthala. Study of the composition and origin of primary magmas and modelling of the origin of magmatic and hydrothermal fluids. Influence of magma composition, volatile content and upwelling dynamics on the different eruptive types.

Action 3: Communication and training

Training of students and young researchers throughout the project, coupled with a transfer of knowledge to the actors in charge of monitoring, warning and civil protection and to the population.