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Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies.
Soufrière Hills Volcano , Montserrat, West Indies. Synopsis of events by former Montserrat resident, photographer and Author Lally Brown.
Where is Montserrat? Montserrat is a small tropical island of approximately 40 sq. miles in the Caribbean, fifteen minutes flying time from Antigua. It is a British Overseas Territory and relies on UK Government aid money to survive. It is of volcanic origin with the Soufrière Hills above the capital of Plymouth the highest point of the island.
How and when did the volcano erupt? Prior to 1995 the volcano in the Soufrière Hills had been dormant for 350 years but on the morning of 18th July 1995 steam and fine ash could be seen coming from the flanks of the Soufrière Hills accompanied by a roaring sound, described as being like a jet engine. In the capital of Plymouth there was a strong smell of ‘bad eggs’ the hydrogen sulphide being emitted by the awakening volcano.
Montserrat was totally unprepared. No-one had ever imagined the dormant volcano would erupt. The Soufrière Hills was the breadbasket of the island where farmers worked the fertile agricultural land, while the busy capital and island port of Plymouth nestled at the foot of the hills.
Scientists arrived from the University of the West Indies to assess the situation. They said the volcano was producing ‘acoustic energy explosions’ at approximately half-hour intervals sending ash and vapour three to four hundred metres into the air.
What happened next? Before July 1995 Montserrat was a thriving tourist destination with a population of 10,000 people but over several weeks there was a mass exodus from the island and a run on the banks with people withdrawing cash.
Several areas near the vent that had opened up in the hillside were declared exclusion zones and residents were evacuated to the safe north of the island into schools and churches.
It was evident the volcano was becoming more active when a series of small earthquakes shook the island. Heavy rain from passing hurricanes brought mudflows down the hillsides into Plymouth. Sulphide dioxide emissions increased, a sure sign of heightened activity.
The scientists hoped to be able to give a six hour warning of any eruptive activity but when they discovered the magma was less than 1 km below the dome they said this could not be guaranteed, saying there was a 50% chance of an imminent eruption. An emergency order was signed by the Governor and new exclusion zones were drawn with people evacuated north.
The years 1995 to 1997 The Soufrière Hills volcano became increasingly active and more dangerous.
Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) was established to monitor activity and advise the Government.
December 1995 saw the first pyroclastic flow from the volcano.
The capital of Plymouth was evacuated for the last time in April 1996.
Acid rain damaged plants.
Two-thirds of Montserrat became the new exclusion zone , including the fertile agricultural land.
Population dropped to 4,000 with residents leaving for UK or other Caribbean islands.
Frequent heavy ashfalls covered the island with blankets of thick ash.
On the seismic drums at the MVO swarms of small hybrid earthquakes frequently registered. Also volcano-tectonic earthquakes (indicating fracture or slippage of rock) and ‘Broadband’ tremors (indicating movement of magma).
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MVO Seismograph printout Dec 1997
‘Spines’ grew rapidly out of the lava dome to heights of up to 15 metres before collapsing back.
Rainfall caused dangerous mudflows down the flanks of the Soufrière Hills.
Temporary accommodation was built to house evacuees living in churches and schools.
25th June 1997 Black Wednesday For a period of twenty minutes at 12.59 pm the volcano erupted without warning with devastating consequences. A massive pyroclastic flow swept across the landscape and boulders up to 4 metres in diameter were thrown out of the volcano. Over 4 sq.km was destroyed including nine villages and two churches. The top 300ft had been blown off the lava dome. Tragically nineteen people were caught in the pyroclastic flow and died.
Post Office and War Memorial 1997
Lateral blast December 1997 Midnight on Christmas Day 1997 the MVO reported that hybrid earthquakes had merged into a near-continuous signal clipping the sides of the seismic drum. At 3am on Boxing Day there was a massive collapse of the dome. Approximately 55 million cubic metres of dome material shot down the flanks of the volcano into the sea. Travelling at speeds of 250-300 km per hour it took less than a minute to slice a 7 km wide arc of devastation across southern Montserrat. The evacuated villages of Patrick’s and O’Garros were blasted out of existence. A delta 2 km wide spilled into the sea causing a small tsunami .
Police checkpoint Montserrat
March 1999 After a year of apparent inactivity at the volcano the Scientists declared the risk to populated areas had fallen to levels of other Caribbean islands with dormant volcanoes. Arrangements were made to encourage overseas residents to return. Plans were put in place to reopen the abandoned airport.
2000 to 2003 One year after the volcano had been declared dormant there was a massive collapse of the dome, blamed on heavy rainfall.
In July 2001 another massive collapse of the dome described as ‘a significant eruption’ caused airports on neighbouring Caribbean islands to close temporarily due to the heavy ashfall they experienced. A Maritime Exclusion Zone was introduced around Montserrat and access to Plymouth and the airport prohibited.
Soufrière Hills volcano was now described as a ‘persistently active volcano’ that could continue for 10, 20 or 30 years. (ie possibly to 2032).
In July 2003 ‘the worst eruption to date’ took place, starting at 8 pm 12th July and continuing without pause until 4 am morning of 13th July. Over 100 metres in height disappeared from the mountain overnight. It was the largest historical dome collapse since activity began in July 1995.
A period of relative quiet followed.
2006 The second largest dome collapse took place with an ash cloud reaching a record 55,000 metres into the air. Mudflows down the flanks of the Soufrière Hills was extensive and tsunamis were reported on the islands of Guadeloupe and Antigua.
Another period of relative quiet followed.
Soufriere Hills volcano 2007
2010 Another partial dome collapse with pyroclastic flows reaching 400 metres into the sea and burying the old abandoned airport. There was extensive ashfall on neighbouring islands.
Again followed by a period of relative quiet.
2018 Although the Soufrière Hills volcano is described as ‘active’ it is currently relatively quiet. It is closely monitored by a team at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO). They advise the Government and residents on the state of the volcano.
Negative effects of the volcano:
· Approximately two-thirds of Montserrat now inaccessible (exclusion zone);
· Capital of Plymouth including hospital, government buildings, businesses, schools etc. buried under ash;
· Fertile farming land in the south in exclusion zone and buried under ash;
· Population reduced from 10,000 to 4,000;
· Businesses left Montserrat;
· Tourism badly affected;
· Concern over long term health problems due to ash;
· Volcano Stress Syndrome diagnosed;
· Huge financial cost to British Tax Payer (£400 million in aid);
· Loss of houses, often not insured;
· Relocation to the north of Montserrat by residents from the south.
Positive effects:
· Tourists visiting Montserrat to see the volcano, MVO and Plymouth, now described as ‘Caribbean Pompeii’;
· Geothermal energy being investigated;
· Sand mining for export;
· Plans for a new town and port in north;
· New housing for displaced residents built;
· New airport built (but can only accommodate small planes);
· New Government Headquarters built;
· Businesses opening up in the north of the island;
· Ferry to Antigua operating.
Lally Brown
You can follow Lally Brown on Twitter.
If you are interested in reading a dramatic eyewitness account of life with this unpredictable and dangerous volcano then the book ‘THE VOLCANO , MONTSERRAT AND ME’ by Lally Brown is highly recommended. You can order a paper back or Kindle version on Amazon .
“As time moves on and memories fade, this unique, compelling book will serve as an important and accurate first-hand record of traumatic events, faithfully and sensitively recounted by Lally Brown.”
Prof. Willy Aspinall Cabot Professor in Natural Hazards and Risk Science, Bristol University.
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To evaluate the causes and effects of the Montserrat eruption and suggest sustainable ways to rebuild the island
Starter : Read the intro of the wikipedia page on Montserrat and take five notes of the features you find most relevant about this island.
Task 1 - Study the Google maps below and make three notes of the physical characteristics of the island of Montserrat.
Task 2 - Study the BBC bitesize case study in the textbox below and, on your exercise book, answer the questions that follow it. (Click to open)
Case study: Chances Peak, Montserrat, 1995-97 - an LEDC
Plymouth covered in ash from volcanic eruptions on Montserrat
Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean. There is a volcanic area located in the south of the island on Soufriere Hills called Chances Peak . Before 1995 it had been dormant for over 300 years. In 1995 the volcano began to give off warning signs of an eruption (small earthquakes and eruptions of dust and ash). Once Chances Peak had woken up it then remained active for five years. The most intense eruptions occurred in 1997.
During this time, Montserrat was devastated by pyroclastic flows . The small population of the island (11,000 people) was evacuated in 1995 to the north of Montserrat as well as to neighbouring islands and the UK.
Despite the evacuations, 19 people were killed by the eruptions as a small group of people chose to stay behind to watch over their crops.
Volcanic eruptions and lahars have destroyed large areas of Montserrat. The capital, Plymouth, has been covered in layers of ash and mud. Many homes and buildings have been destroyed, including the only hospital, the airport and many roads.
The graphic shows the progress of the eruption and its impact on the island.
Montserrat - eruption progress and impact
Short-term responses and results
- Evacuation.
- Abandonment of the capital city.
- The British government gave money for compensation and redevelopment.
- Unemployment rose due to the collapse of the tourist industry.
Long-term responses and results
- An exclusion zone was set up in the volcanic region.
- A volcanic observatory was built to monitor the volcano.
- New roads and a new airport were built.
- Services in the north of the island were expanded.
- The presence of the volcano resulted in a growth in tourism.
Volcanic activity has calmed down in recent years and people have begun to return to the island.
You might be asked to consider the values and attitudes or opinions of people involved in the eruption, such as refugees or aid workers for example.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/natural_hazards/volcanoes_rev6.shtml
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zgh79qt/revision/6
Click here to view http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Plate%20Tectonics/Extra_case_studies/Montserrat.htm As a precaution, Firefly only embeds content that has a certificate to prove it's sent over the web securely.
http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Plate%20Tectonics/Extra_case_studies/Montserrat.htm
Questions : a. Define i. pyroclastic flows, ii. evacuated, iii. lahar b. Describe the short-term and long-term responses and results.
Task 3 - Watch the video below and complement your notes with additional information.
Task 4 - You have been asked to rebuild Montserrat following the volcanic eruption. You have been given £84,000 (£21,000 per year) to spend over 4 years but must make sure you spend it wisely and consider where to put your new facilities on your map. Your teacher will give you a copy of the document below:
- montserrat restructuring priorities SEN.docx
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A case study of a volcanic eruption-Montserrat.
Subject: Geography
Age range: 14-16
Resource type: Worksheet/Activity
Last updated
12 January 2015
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Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user
Mindmap worksheet is the most useful of the three, but saying that, like below I cannot open the Notebook document
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Can i apologise for the presentation not opening, i have tried and found it would open for me, it may be an IT conflict i was using smart notebook 11. Apologies once again.
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Nice worksheets but I can't open the interactive whiteboard document. :(
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The volcano is monitored by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. The eruption that began on 18 July 1995 was the first since the 19th century in Montserrat. When pyroclastic flows and mudflows began occurring regularly, the capital, Plymouth, was evacuated, and a few weeks later a pyroclastic flow covered the city in several metres of debris.
Case study: Chances Peak, Montserrat, 1995-97 - an LEDC . Montserrat (a British Overseas territory) is a small island in the Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands in a chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles. ... Between 1995 and 1997 Montserrat was devastated by pyroclastic flows. The small population of the island (11,000 people ...
Montserrat Case Study. Causes. The cause of the eruption was because of radio active decay in the earths core. The radioactive decay caused convection currents and magma to well up in the cracks of the earths surface. The Soufrière Hills volcano produces a sticky lava called Andesite. It builds at the top of the volcano in a dome until it ...
Soufrière Hills volcano was now described as a 'persistently active volcano' that could continue for 10, 20 or 30 years. (ie possibly to 2032). In July 2003 'the worst eruption to date' took place, starting at 8 pm 12th July and continuing without pause until 4 am morning of 13th July.
Title: Soufrière Hills, Montserrat - Case Study - World at Risk - Edexcel Geography IAL Created Date: 20191125163821Z
1997. which year was considered the real 'disaster' year? chances peak. the volcanic area in Montserrat, where this volcano was is...? small tremors. why was no one too concerned at the beginning? phreatic eruption. what type of eruption was this? - (ash and steam forced out of small holes and cracks in the volcano) montserrat volcano observatory.
Case study: Chances Peak, Montserrat, 1995-97 - an LEDC. Plymouth covered in ash from volcanic eruptions on Montserrat. Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean. There is a volcanic area located in the south of the island on Soufriere Hills called Chances Peak. Before 1995 it had been dormant for over 300 years.
The volcanic section of the island, known as Soufriere Hills erupted in 1995 after a dormancy period of 300 years. In 1997 a major eruption devastated the southern part of the island and buried the capital, Plymouth. Agricultural land was destroyed, villages were flattened and 19 people were killed. The crisis prompted more than half of the ...
Case study lesson on the eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcanoes from 1995-1997. Starts with a range of photos from present day Montserrat. A range of activities then allow pupils to make a one-page revision guide of the location, causes, effects and management. Suitable for GCSE Geography but could be adapted for lower ability A-Level students.
Montserrat is 11 miles (18 km) long and 7 miles (11 km) wide. The island's rugged volcanic landscape is molded by three mountainous areas—the Silver Hills, the Centre Hills, and the Soufrière Hills—which are in turn cut by narrow valleys and gorges known locally as ghauts.The Silver Hills, in the north, and the Centre Hills are forested at higher elevations but have secondary scrub on ...
L6: How can Montserrat prepare for future eruptions? L7: How do developed countries respond to hotspot volcanoes? It is worth noting that some of these lessons require two lessons to be delivered.
Geological Background. Monserrat is in the northern part of the lesser Antilles volcanic island arc marking the destructive plate boundary margin resulting from the subduction of the North American plate below the Carribbean plate. 4 volcanic centres but 3 are dorminant (sources of magma removed) but soufriere hills are active. Soufriere Hills.
The island of Montserrat is slowly recovering from the disastrous eruption of 1995-97. The volcano, however, is steadily building a new dome, and pyroclastic flows and ash fall are still a threat. It is hoped that the northern part of the island will eventually be able to sustain a population of 10,000.
This interactive whiteboard activity presents a case study of the volcanic eruption on Montserrat on 18th July 1995. The first part of the activity gives background information to plate movement leading to an interactive exercise to identify the movement in the major plate boundaries of the world. The second part of the activity allows for the ...
Montserrat Case Study. Location: Montserrat is a small island is situated in the Caribbean and 12 miles long and 7 miles wide. Chances Peak Volanco erupted extremely violently and for the first time in over 300 years on 25 June 1997 at approximately 1 p.m. Chances Peak is located on the Soufiere Hills which is the highest point in Montserrat.. Causes: Montserrat is situated on a destructive ...
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between the caribbean and north american plates. what type of plate boundary is montserrat located along? a destructive plate boundary between an oceanic and continental plate. what is the first step of the formation of the montserrat volcano? the oceanic and continental plates will collide due to the descending convection currents.
Best free resources for CAIE IGCSE Geography 0460 Case Studies including summarized notes, topical and past paper walk through videos by top students.
Geography Case Study Volcanoes - Montserrat - 1995. Describe the location of Montserrat. 1. Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. 2. It is specifically situated in the northern part of the lesser Antilles.
How much did the UK give to redevelop the island? £41 million. Cram has partnered with the National Tutoring Association Claim your access. Study Flashcards On Montserrat Eruption Geography GCSE AQA Case Study at Cram.com. Quickly memorize the terms, phrases and much more. Cram.com makes it easy to get the grade you want!
Geography a level case study Montserrat volcano. Get a hint. Where is Montserrat located? Click the card to flip 👆. Located in the Carribbean and a British overseas territory. Click the card to flip 👆. 1 / 7.
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