Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies

http://www.mvo.ms/

Where is the island of Montserrat?

What is the tectonic setting of Montserrat?

Montserrat – North to South

What does the Soufriere Hills lava dome look like?

March 2003

1

2

July 2003

Cycles of lava dome collapse at the Soufriere Hills volcano

July 1995: volcano wakes up after 400 years of dormancy

Phase 1 - July 1995 to March 1998

Phase 2 - November 1999 to July 2003

Phase 3 – June 2005 to April 2007

What do the dome collapse deposits look like?

Reasons for collapse of the Soufriere Hills lava dome1) Rainfall ? 2) Gas overpressure ?

Carn et al, 2004

Carn et al, 2004

Collapse - March 20, 2000

March 20, 2000

Collapse - July 13, 2003

July 12, 2003 - 42 mm of rainfall

Herd et al, 2005

Jan. 96

Feb. 98

Feb. 99

Dec. 2001

Aug. 2003

Sept. 2003