Kind of volcano:
Soufriere Hills volcano is a complex stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes have magmas with an average level of silica. As it contains less silica; the faster the lava will flow on the Earth's surface.
Tectonic activity:
Soufriere Hills is formed by a convergent plate boundary; where the Atlantic Plate is subducting under the Caribbean plate. In the plate tectonics, a convergent boundry is a deforming region where two (or more) tectonic plates of lithosphere move toward each other and collide. As the two plates move toward each other they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. It depends on the types of the plates involved. In a subduction zone, the subducting plate; a plate with oceanic crust moving beneath the other plate.
Eruption History:
Soufriere Hills Volcano first erupted in 1897–1898, then in 1933–1937, and again in 1966–1967. Scientist watched the volcanic activity on Montserrat in January 1992 (more than 3 years before the first eruption). In 1992 they measured the earthquake swarms and in 1994 a larger swarm occurred. It was the first stage of pre-eruptive activity. However, the actual eruption began on July 18, 1995, steam, ash pyroclastic clouds, mudflows constantly occurred from the northwest crater. The capital Plymouth was evacuated a few weeks before the pyroclastic clouds covered the city.
The eruption (in 21 August 1995) lasted for 18 weeks until it cools down to andesitic lava dome. The whole process lasted for 60 weeks. It was proven by a sector-collapsed scar. The explosion blinded Plymouth; in thick layers of ash, and completely darkened the sky. Then earthquakes occur in the three epicentral zone. In September, 1995, they started to see the dome growing; followed by mud flows along the southeastern slope of the volcano. In 1996 pyroclastic clouds caused by dome collapse. The first magmatic explosion explosion began in September 1996 that destroyed homes because of the falling rock and pumice and covered the southern part of the island (with over 600,000 tons of ash).
In June 25 1997, the eruption caused 19 death, the island's airport was in the main path of the pyroclastic flow; the tourist industry was destroyed but is now recovering.
Places destroyed:
Web page of Montserrat Volcanic eruptions: http://www.mvo.ms/
Soufriere Hills volcano is a complex stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes have magmas with an average level of silica. As it contains less silica; the faster the lava will flow on the Earth's surface.
Tectonic activity:
Soufriere Hills is formed by a convergent plate boundary; where the Atlantic Plate is subducting under the Caribbean plate. In the plate tectonics, a convergent boundry is a deforming region where two (or more) tectonic plates of lithosphere move toward each other and collide. As the two plates move toward each other they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. It depends on the types of the plates involved. In a subduction zone, the subducting plate; a plate with oceanic crust moving beneath the other plate.
Eruption History:
Soufriere Hills Volcano first erupted in 1897–1898, then in 1933–1937, and again in 1966–1967. Scientist watched the volcanic activity on Montserrat in January 1992 (more than 3 years before the first eruption). In 1992 they measured the earthquake swarms and in 1994 a larger swarm occurred. It was the first stage of pre-eruptive activity. However, the actual eruption began on July 18, 1995, steam, ash pyroclastic clouds, mudflows constantly occurred from the northwest crater. The capital Plymouth was evacuated a few weeks before the pyroclastic clouds covered the city.
The eruption (in 21 August 1995) lasted for 18 weeks until it cools down to andesitic lava dome. The whole process lasted for 60 weeks. It was proven by a sector-collapsed scar. The explosion blinded Plymouth; in thick layers of ash, and completely darkened the sky. Then earthquakes occur in the three epicentral zone. In September, 1995, they started to see the dome growing; followed by mud flows along the southeastern slope of the volcano. In 1996 pyroclastic clouds caused by dome collapse. The first magmatic explosion explosion began in September 1996 that destroyed homes because of the falling rock and pumice and covered the southern part of the island (with over 600,000 tons of ash).
In June 25 1997, the eruption caused 19 death, the island's airport was in the main path of the pyroclastic flow; the tourist industry was destroyed but is now recovering.
Places destroyed:
- Bethel
- Bramble
- Dyers
- Fairfield
- Farm
- Farrell's
- Farrell's Yard
- Galway's Estate
- Harris
- Hermitage
- Long Ground
- Morris's
- Plymouth - the capital of Montserrat, initially evacuated in August 1995; abandoned and destroyed in 1997
- Saint Patrick's
- Robuscus Mt
- Soufrière
- Streatham
- Trants
- Trials
- White's
Web page of Montserrat Volcanic eruptions: http://www.mvo.ms/