The Importance of Data Visualisation in Volcanic Activity Bulletins, Aotearoa New Zealand

The Importance of Data Visualisation in Volcanic Activity Bulletins, Aotearoa New Zealand | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Importance of Data Visualisation in Volcanic Activity Bulletins, Aotearoa New Zealand Steven Sherburn, Craig A. Miller, Ery C. Hughes This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9174409/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Visuals, consisting of graphs, photographs, and other visual aids, are sometimes used as part of Volcanic Activity Bulletins (VAB), the main product used to inform the public of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) of volcanic activity and its potential impacts. Despite visuals commonly being regarded as vital to support communicating complex science ideas to non-science audiences, they are used relatively infrequently in VABs. For Ruapehu and Whakaari/White Island, NZ’s two most active volcanoes, only 24 and 36%, respectively, of examined VABs included a visual. Taupō and Tongariro, less active volcanoes, had substantially higher proportions of VABs with visuals. Most visuals were used to explain scientific information or data, but few specifically to explain hazard or risk. Reasons for not incorporating visuals include: preparation time constraints, VABs that contained little new information so a visual is less beneficial, and visuals being an optional addition. VABs published during the first official unrest episode at Taupō, a large caldera volcano with substantial population and infrastructure at risk, all included bespoke graphs, likely owing to the increased importance of clear communication in that case. Evaluation of clarity of message, information, and data in VAB visuals by a small group of creators and consumers produced varied scores and comments, revealing different views about what constitutes an effective visual. The best scoring visuals were created specifically for VABs, and the poorest scoring was a technical, internal monitoring product incorporated directly into a VAB without modification. The value of visuals in helping communicate key messages is not in doubt, provided they are suitable for the intended audience. Areas for improvement include: ensuring each visual has a title that reinforces the key message; ensuring important data or observations are highlighted; considering the area of interest when using base maps and adding error bars to graphs only if relevant to the message. The importance of visuals is improved if volcanic activity and hazard information are viewed as communication rather than science products. Volcano communication Volcanic Activity Bulletin Visual Graph Map Photograph Style guide Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Additionalfile1.xlsx Additionalfile3.xlsx Additionalfile2.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers invited by journal 04 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 24 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 21 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 19 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9174409","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":618503585,"identity":"71d77a7c-ec78-4b84-b4bd-682d2e486d9b","order_by":0,"name":"Steven Sherburn","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Earth Sciences New Zealand","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Steven","middleName":"","lastName":"Sherburn","suffix":""},{"id":618503586,"identity":"7877f641-5474-44c5-9c35-82d5b5137710","order_by":1,"name":"Craig A. 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Despite visuals commonly being regarded as vital to support communicating complex science ideas to non-science audiences, they are used relatively infrequently in VABs. For Ruapehu and Whakaari/White Island, NZ\u0026rsquo;s two most active volcanoes, only 24 and 36%, respectively, of examined VABs included a visual. Taupō and Tongariro, less active volcanoes, had substantially higher proportions of VABs with visuals. Most visuals were used to explain scientific information or data, but few specifically to explain hazard or risk. Reasons for not incorporating visuals include: preparation time constraints, VABs that contained little new information so a visual is less beneficial, and visuals being an optional addition. VABs published during the first official unrest episode at Taupō, a large caldera volcano with substantial population and infrastructure at risk, all included bespoke graphs, likely owing to the increased importance of clear communication in that case.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvaluation of clarity of message, information, and data in VAB visuals by a small group of creators and consumers produced varied scores and comments, revealing different views about what constitutes an effective visual. The best scoring visuals were created specifically for VABs, and the poorest scoring was a technical, internal monitoring product incorporated directly into a VAB without modification.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe value of visuals in helping communicate key messages is not in doubt, provided they are suitable for the intended audience. 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