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Union Internationale de Spéléologie (UIS)Commission on Volcanic Caves
e-NEWSLETTER
N 64June 2012
o
http://www.uis-speleo.org/
http://www.vulcanospeleology.org
Message from the Chairman................................................... 3 Message from the Vice Chairman............................................4 Obituary of Dr. Chris Wood.....................................................5 15th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology...............9 Map of Jordan.........................................................................10 Symposium Program Agenda.................................................. 11 Photo Gallery of the Symposium............................................. 12-14 Caving in the Yarmouk-Decapolis Aqueduct Tunnels..............15 Post-Symposium Field Trip.....................................................16 Post-Symposium Field Trip Agenda........................................ 17 Bronze-Age City of Jawa......................................................... 18 Al Badia Cave..........................................................................20 Qasr Burqu............................................................................. 21 Al Fahda Cave.........................................................................22-23 Kempe Volcano & Desert Kites................................................24 Hashemite University Cave......................................................25 Commission Business Meeting................................................27-28 Speleo Calendar......................................................................29
No. 64 - June 2012
The Commission on Volcanic CavesNewsletter has been publishedquarterly since December 22, 1993.The Newsletter is available free ofcharge to all members of thecommission, and to others who areinterested in lava caves.
MISSION STATEMENT
The U.I.S. Commission on VolcanicCaves encourages exploration andscientific investigation of volcaniccaves, and hosts the InternationalSymposium on Vulcanospeleology
about every two years.
COVER PHOTO
An active eruption during the 1969-1971 Mauna Ulu eruption of KilaueaVolcano, Hawai’i Volcanoes National
Park, Hawai’i. Photo by J.B. Judd,October 21, 1970. Photo is courtesy of
the U.S Geological Survey (U.S.G.S).
Report Commission on Volcanic Caves2009 - 2013
Till this moment the commission heldevery second year a symposium. Iceland2002, Azores 2004, Mexico 2006, Korea2008, Australia 2010, and recently Jordan15-22 March 2012. The Jordansymposium was successful and veryinteresting, and organized by Prof AhmadAl-Malabeh. Not only caves, but alsoarchaeological sites were visited. Amountof participants was 15 during the start,but with an opening ceremony with atleast 150 people!
Clearly the recession has some influence.Already in 2012 in Australia some 10
people who regular visited the symposiawere not attending. The original amountof participants of the Jordan symposiumwas so limited that the organizerconsidered to cancel or postpone thesymposium, which would have beencatastrophic for those who had bookedthey flights already. Thanks to Prof.Kempe, who has good contacts with theorganizer this did not happen.
On 18 March we held the Commissionmeeting with 10 participants. Sad pointwas the fact two important memberswere not with us anymore: Prof. Greeleyand Dr. Chris Wood.
Due to the small amount of participantsno decision could be taken about thenext Symposium.
Earlier proposals were New Mexico - butdue to WNS most caves are closed. ForGalapagos only two members showedinterest. Harry Marinakis suggestedHawaii, but who is organizing there?Certainly with a smaller amount ofparticipants in the future it must bemade clear to organizers if there mightbe a minimum to succeed.
Chairman Jan-Paul van der [email protected]
We had a wonderful time in Jordan,thanks to our kind and generous hosts.THANK YOU!
This newsletter is dedicated to a reporton the symposium. Other topics andsubmissions will be included in the nextnewsletter
Cheers,Harry MarinakisVice-chairman
Greetings to the Commission:
The 15th International Symposium onVulcanospeleology was held in Zarka,Jordan, from March 15 through March22, 2012.
We explored other parts of Jordan suchas Petra and the Wadi Rum before andafter the symposium.
Happy delegates at the symposium in Jordan. (Photo by John Brush.)
Chris WoodApril 4, 1947 - January 19, 2012
by Ed Waters
Chris will undoubtedly beremembered primarily for hisalmost unparalleled contribution tothe understanding of the formationof lava tube caves. Thiscontribution ranged from theexploration and surveying of someof the world’s most extensive lavatube systems, through to over 50published works on the subject andcontribution of papers to sevenInternational Symposia onVulcanospeleology. As impressiveas this contribution is, it doesn’t inthe slightest bit convey hisinfectious enthusiasm that hasinspired many others, includingmyself, to look at lava tubes assomething more than a second bestalternative to a “real” limestonecave.
Chris started caving through theScouts in the early 1960s, beingmentored by none other than FredDavies. This led him to join theShepton Mallet Caving Club in1966, of which he was a memberuntil 1992 and he retained close
links with the club until his death in Januarythis year. It was with the Shepton that he wasfirst introduced to Lava Tubes, with the club’s21st Anniversary expedition to Iceland. Oneresult of this trip was a paper published in theCGR transactions discussing the nature andformation of Lava Tube Caves – the first of atleast 50 such publications. It should also benoted that Chris’ PhD was entitled “LavaTubes: Their Morphogenesis and Role in FlowFormation”.
From the wastes of Iceland Chris wasinvolved in a series of expeditions to lavatube caves, the highlights probably beingthe exploration and survey of Cueva delViento in Tenerifein 1973 which at 7920mwas the longest lava tube cave known atthe time, and the United KingdomSpeleological Expedition to Hawai’I in1979 which surveyed over 22km of cave,including 11.5km of Kazumura Cave (nowthe world’s longest lava tube at over65km long).
Back at home, Chris used his geographyskills to become the information officerfor the Yorkshire Dales National Park in1982. I know that Chris remembered histime in the Dales with great fondness,including the caving in
Limestone occasionally. In 1996 he leftthe Dales and moved to a lecturing postat the School of Applied Sciences inBournemouth University. It was threeyears later that I first met Chris on theShepton Mallet Caving Club’s 50th
Anniversary Holiday to Slovenia. It wasduring this trip that he managed to“con” me on to the Laki UndergroundExpedition to Iceland in 2000.Thisexpedition shows the best of Chris’character, managing a mixed group ofstudents (from both Bournemouth andDundee Universities), some hairy caversand geophysicists to carry out realexploration and scientific research inone of the remotest areas of Europe. Tome however the real memory is myshock at discovering that Lava Tubescould be so interesting. This wascompletely down to Chris’ infectiousenthusiasm, and deep knowledge, forthese phenomena. I had originally goneon the trip to see Iceland, using the lavatubes as an excuse to go, but cameback bitten by the lava tube bug. Thiswas entirely Chris’ fault, and the effecthas proven to be a lasting one –travelling to Iceland, Mexico, the CanaryIslands, Sicily and Korea.
The Laki Underground 2000 expeditionwas such a success that Chris organiseda follow up trip in 2001. In total thesetwo expeditions explored and surveyed
One of the world heritage applicationsthat Chris had championed was that ofJeju Island (Republic of Korea). His workbeing so valuable to the successfuloutcome that he was made an honorarycitizen of the island in 2007. Chris hadregaled me with stories of giant lavatubes decorated with calcite formations,so when it was announced that the XIIInternational Symposium onVulcanospeleology was to be held there,it took little persuasion to join Christhere. This was the last occasion that Iwent underground with Chris.
in excess of 11km of new passage, andcarried out ground breaking research intothe use of geophysical techniques todetect entranceless lava tubes from thesurface. This work was recognised byChris being awarded the Arthur ButcherAward for excellence in cave surveying atHidden Earth in 2002.
After the second Laki expedition, Chrisand I kept in close touch. At this timeChris was becoming heavily involved withassisting governments proposing sites forUNESCO world heritage status. A sidelineto his academic career that had himjetting all over the world – indeed it wasoften difficult to keep up with Chris’ busyschedule of exotic destinations.
In 2006 I was lucky enough to visit lavatubes in Lanzarote and attend the XIISymposium on Vulcanospelelogy withChris. It was at this symposium that Icame to realise in how much esteem Chriswas held by his peers from all over theworld. During 2007 Chris went on a trueadventure to Mount Suswa in Kenya,where he helped the local Masai makeplans for developing the extensive cavesinto a tourist attraction. I was also mostfortunate in being able to persuade himto join an expedition to Iceland later inthe year.
for the UIS Commission on Volcanic Caves,of which Chris was a long standingmember.
Personally I will miss a truly unique friend,and I know that next time I find myself in alava tube all those questions I wish I hadasked will come flooding back to me.
Chris’ ashes were laid to rest in a woodlandburial near to his home inDorset. Amongst the many mourners therewere over 20 cavers young and old to wishhim fairwell. Our deepest sympathies goout to Chris’ family at this Mills forproviding details from before 1999.
Over the following years we kept incontact, meeting up for a meal and achat regularly and it was always apleasure to catch up with Chris’ latestadventures, including becoming aProfessor at a university in China. Wealways talked of plans to return toIceland, or the Canaries or to one ofthe other areas Chris thought wereripe for the exploration of lavatubes. I never got the chance to cavewith Chris in the UK, and his suddendeath has left many plans halfformulated. Perhaps the greatesttragedy is that Chris was working on adefinitive book about lava tube caves
The primary organizer of the symposium was Professor Ahmad Al-Malabeh, PhD(center), director of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at HashemiteUniversity. He is flanked to his right by the Commission chairman Jan Paul van der Pas
and to his left by Professor Stephan Kempe. (Photo by Nader Atieh Alabed.)
The SymposiumMarch 15 - 18, 2012Hashemite University
Jarka, Jordan
The Post-Symposium Field TripMarch 19 - 22, 2012
Badia Research & Development CenterAs-Safawi, Jordan
15th International Symposium on VulcanospeleologyHashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Map of Jordan and the Surrounding Countries
The symposium was held in Zarka. The post-symposium field trip was held in As-Safawi in the Harrat Al-Shaam volcanic field. Other places of interest (such as Umm
Qies, Jawa, Qasr Burqu, Petra and the Wadi Rum) were also on the itinerary.
The Symposium Program Agenda
Photo by Nader Atieh Alabed.
March 15, 2012: Opening ceremony, introductions, dedications, awards, andpresentations. A tour of ancient Roman ruins in Amman during the evening.
March 16, 2012: Field trip to northern Jordan. Caving in the 2,000 year-old tunnels ofthe Roman Yarmouk-Decapolis aqueduct (longest known tunnel from ancient times). Atour of the ancient Roman city of Umm Qies, overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
March 17, 2012: Presentations. A tour of the ancient ruins of Al-Hallabat in theevening. The official meeting of the Commission at night.
March 18, 2012:. Presentations, closing ceremony.
Page 10 Photo Captions (left to right, top tobottom):
Hashemite University. By Harry Marinakis.
Al-Hallabat. By Marjorie Coggan.
Opening ceremony. By Nader Atieh Alabed.
Dining in a restaurant after the field trip tonorthern Jordan. By John Brush.
Roman ruins in Amman. By MarjorieCoggan.
The entrance to Al-Turah spring and thestart of the Roman Yarmouk-Decapolisaqueduct. By Greg Middleton.
The ruins of Umm Qies. By Stephan Kempe.
Lunch during the symposium. By NaderAtieh Alabed.
Amphitheater at Umm Qies. By John Brush.
Dinner at a local restaurant in Amman. ByJohn Brush.
Guests at the symposium. By Nader AtiehAlabed.
Panorama of the valley of Al-Turah spring.photo by Greg Middleton.
Page 11 Photo Captions (left to right, top tobottom):
Al-Hallabat. By Harry Marinakis.
Yarmouk-Decapolis tunnels. By John Brush.
Roman ruins in Amman. By Harry Marinakis.
Group photo in Amman. By John Brush.
Ahmad making coffee. By Stephan Kempe.
Al-Turah spring. By Harry Marinakis.
Presentations. By Nader Atieh Alabed.
Freezing rain. By Harry Marinakis.
Presentations. By Nader Atieh Alabed.
Yarmouk-Decapolis aqueduct tunnels. ByJohn Brush.
Presentations. By Nader Atieh Alabed.
Aqueduct tunnels. By Greg Middleton.
Al-Hallabat. By Marjorie Coggan.
Nations represented at thesymposium:
Australia, Belgium, Germany, Iraq,Jordan, Netherlands, Switzerland,
United States of America.
2,000 year-old Yarmouk-Decapolis aqueduct tunnel
Photo: Greg Middleton
Photo: Harry Marinakis
Post-Symposium Field TripThe post-symposium field trip was held at the Badia Research & Development Centerin As-Safawi, out in the "black desert" of the Harrat Al-Shaam volcanic field. Our host
was Dr. Odeh M. Al Meshan, PhD, director of the Badia Research Program.
Dr. Odeh M. Al Meshan,PhD, (above, at Jawa)director of the BadiaResearch Program.
The Badia center is shownon the left.
http://www.badia.gov.jo/
The "black desert" of the Harrat Al-Shaam volcanic field
The Post-Symposium Program AgendaMarch 19, 2012: Qais volcanic flow. Caving in Assam Cave, Al Badia Cave. Tour of aquarry in a volcano. Presentations in the evening at the Badia Center.
March 20, 2012: Tour of the early bronze age city of Jawa. Caving in Al Fahda Cave.Presentations in the evening at the Badia Center.
March 21, 2012: Explored a desert "kite" on the Kempe volcano. Caving in KempeCave. Tour of the 7,000-year-old Roman outpost at Qasr Burqu (Castle Burqu).
March 22, 2012:. Caving in Hashemite University Cave and Haleem Cave. Dinner inAl Mafraq. Return to Amman.
Bronze-Age City of Jawa (~ 5,000 years old)
Julia James(left) andMarjorieCoggan
at a gate inthe wall at
Jawa(Photo by
John Brush)
Dr. Odeh M.Al Meshan,
PhD, atJawa, on the
Syrianborder
Highlights from As-Safawi and the Post-Symposium Field Trip
Al Badia Cave
Photo: John Brush
Photo: John Brush & Marjorie Coggan
Qasr Burqu~5,000 B.C.
Photo: Dr. Stephan Kempe
Photo: Paul Zehnder
Al Fahda Cave
Photo: John Brush
Photo: John Brush
Al Fahda Cave
Photo: Harry Marinakis
Photo: Harry Marinakis
Kempe Volcano area& Desert Kites
Photo: Marjorie Coggan
Camel petroglyph
Hashemite University Cave
Splash RingPhoto: Greg Middleton
Photo: Harry Marinakis
undisclosed cave
Photos: John Brush & Marjorie Coggan
Commission Business Meeting
by Harry Marinakis
Chairman Jan-Paul van der Pas calledthe Commission business meeting toorder in Amman, Jordan, on March 17,2012 at 8:15 p.m. with ten memberspresent.
The Commission thanked Dr. StephanKempe and Dr. Ahmad Al-Malabeh fortheir hard work in organizing thesymposium.
The recent deaths of Commissionmembers Ron Greeley and Chris Woodwere discussed, and condolence cardswere signed for the families.
John brush volunteered to scan all of theback issues of the newsletter into digitalformat.
The organization and format of theelectronic newsletter was discussed.
The Commission website is currenthosted by Ken Ingham, maintained byJohn Pint and fees are paid by Jan Paul.
At the present time there is no financialsupport from the parent organization,the IUS.
Jan-Paul was nominated to be thetreasurer. He will prepare a budget tosend to the IUS to see if the Commissioncan obtain some funding for the websiteand other minimal expenses.
The 16th International Congress ofSpeleology was discussed. Dr. Kempewill contact the Congress organizersabout getting a half-day session for theCommission on Volcanic Caves.
The question of the next symposiumwas discussed. There were only 3proposed locations for the 17th ISV. Allthree proposed locations have majorproblems.
1. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador2. El Malpais, New Mexico, U.S.A.3. Hawai'i, U.S.A.
Commission members expressed aninterest in a symposium in theGalápagos Islands but most were veryconcerned with the cost of travel. Assuch, this site was not high on thepriority list.
Commission members also expressedinterest in a symposium at El Malpais inNew Mexico, but currently all of thecaves there are closed due to WhiteNose Syndrome.
Hawai'i appeared to be the best locationfor next symposium. However, theCommission does not have a strongpresence in Hawai'i to organize asymposium there.
Thus the decision was made todetermine the costs of a symposium inthe Galápagos Islands, and to contactpeople in Hawai'i to see if anyone wouldbe interested in hosting a symposium.
Finally, the Commission decided toprepare a written guide or checklist forsymposium organizers to assist with thetask of organizing a symposium.
17th International Symposiumon Vulcanospeleolgy Update
Since the Commission business meetingin Amman on March 17, 2012, therehave been numerous developmentsregarding the next (17th) ISV.
New Mexico members of the NationalSpeleological Society (NSS) who live nearEl Malpais are extremely interested inhosting a symposium when the cavesare re-opened.
They are interested in hosting the 2017NSS Convention in New Mexico, andwould like the vulcanospeleologysymposium to be hosted at the sametime, much like the 15th ICS and the2009 NSS Convention in Texas.
Hawaiian cavers do seem to have someinterest in hosting a symposium there in2016. The Hawaiian cavers alsoexpressed interest in attending asymposium in the Galápagos Islands in2014 .
Our Commission member in Ecuador,Dr. Theofilos Toulkeridis, is fullyprepared to host a symposium in theGalápagos Islands in 2014 if theCommission so desires.
John Brush tangles with Haleem CavePhoto: Greg Middleton
in
July 21-28, 2013http://www.speleo2013.com
Above: Paul Zehnder with one of our driversBelow: Speeding across the Jordanian desert
PetraPhotos: Greg Middleton
in
Dead SeaPhotos: Greg Middleton
in
Wadi RumPhotos: Harry Marinakisin
