WOVOdat is a comprehensive global database on volcanic unrest aimed at understanding pre-eruptive processes and improving eruption forecasts. WOVOdat is brought to you by WOVO (World Organization of Volcano Observatories) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.
A lack of standardization in data formats and database architectures has made it nearly impossible to do comparative studies of volcanic unrest, or to search data for analogues to any current unrest. WOVOdat fills this gap by translating and compiling this myriad of data into common formats with the goal to make them freely web-accessible, for reference during volcanic crises, comparative studies, and basic research on pre-eruptive processes.
Using WOVOdat, scientists wishing to study how volcanoes prepare to erupt will be able to find a wealth of historical data at their fingertips. Scientists needing to forecast the outcome of a fresh volcanic crisis will be able to search for analogues, find the past outcomes, and estimate (changing) probabilities of how the fresh unrest will evolve.
New! WOVOdat web service data retrieval system for comprehensive volcano monitoring
Authors: T.Z.W. Nang, C. Widiwijayanti, T. Espinosa-Ortega, J. De Groote, B. TaisneJournal: Bulletin of Volcanology, Volume 87, Article 21 (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-025-01801-8
The global volcano monitoring infrastructure database (GVMID)
Authors: C. Widiwijayanti, T.Z.W. Nang, T. Espinosa-Ortega, F. Costa, B. TaisneJournal: Front. Earth Sci., Volume 12 - 2024 (12:1284889)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1284889
Optimal spatial distribution of seismic stations to detect magma migration using the seismic amplitude ratio analysis
Authors: T. Espinosa-Ortega, B. TaisneJournal: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 452, 108138, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2024.108138
Probabilistic analysis to correlate seismic data with lava extrusion phases at Merapi volcano (Indonesia)
Authors: T. Espinosa-Ortega, A. Budi-Santoso, Sulistiyani, T.Z.W. Nang, C. Widiwijayanti, F. CostaJournal: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research,2022,107537,ISSN 0377-0273
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107537
A blog post about Probabilistic Analysis of Seismic Data and Lava Extrusion Phases at Merapi volcano (Indonesia)
This blog highlights a detailed study that explores the use of probabilistic analysis to correlate seismic data with phases of lava extrusion at Merapi volcano
A blog post about 🌋 Pinatubo's Eruption Anniversary - 15 June 2021
On 15 June huge amounts of gas-charged magma accumulated under the surface of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines and finally exploded creating the largest volcanic eruption ever monitored on Earth. WOVOdat classic episode of unrest: The Pinatubo 1991 Plinian eruption data is available at WOVOdat
Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database (GVMID) Workshop, 18–24 February 2021
Workshop on volcano monitoring infrastructure on the ground and in space GVMID workshop is to improve the understanding of the current capabilities and limits of volcano monitoring from the ground and space.
Inverse Magazine - how volcano scientists are teaming up to stop the next big disaster by Emma Betuel, Inverse, February 2021
THE TEAM — When WOVOdat was created, communicating was a much bigger issue than it is today, Newhall says.
WOVOdat – the global volcano unrest database aimed at improving eruption forecasts
Authors: F. Costa, C. Widiwijayanti, T.Z.W. Nang, E. Fajiculay, T. Espinosa-Ortega, C.G. Newhall (2019)
Published in: Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 28 No. 6, pp. 738-751
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-09-2019-0301
WOVOdat – An online, growing library of worldwide volcanic unrest
Authors: C.G. Newhall, F. Costa, A. Ratdomopurbo, D.Y. Venezky, C. Widiwijayanti, T.Z.W. Nang, E. Fajiculay, K. Tan
Published in: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Vol. 345, pp. 184-199, ISSN 0377-0273
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.08.003
AGU-EOS Meeting Report
Title: Data from past eruptions could reduce future volcano hazardsAuthors: F. Costa, C. Widiwijayanti, H. Humaida (2019)
Event: Optimizing the Use of Volcano Monitoring Database to Anticipate Unrest; Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 26–29 November 2018, EOS, 100
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EO118941
