Soufriere Hills Volcano- Montserrat

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Created by
tenordrummer

Cards (23)

  • Key Issue- duration
  • The southern half of the island is an exclusion zone
  • Erupted 28 years ago
  • Displaced 2/3s of the population
  • Destructive plate margin: South American plate and Caribbean plate
    Subduction zone
  • Before the Volcano- Luxury tourism spot
  • 6 years before the eruption- hit by Hurricane Hugo
  • July 18th 1995:
    Volcanic activity started
  • Immediate responses:
    Most shops closed in the south of the island
    1200 people left the area
    People withdrew cash
    Churches held daily prayers
    Government began importing supplies and construction to build shelters
    Volcano observation set up as scientists head over
  • December 1st 1995:
    The Capital city Plymouth evacuated
    Curfew established
  • Pyroclastic flow:
    700km/h
    1000 degrees
  • 3 year escalation of volcanic activity
  • Air traffic grounded
  • Ash reaches other islands
  • People protests
  • For 12 years-
    Fairly peaceful
  • Over half the forest was destroyed
  • LIC country
  • Quiet since 2010
  • Benefits:
    Geothermal energy
    Mining of minerals from sand
    Tourism
  • Responses:
    Making the remaining forest a nature reserve
  • Responses- Monitoring:
    Seismic monitors
    Gas monitors
    GPS monitors
    Cameras
    Thermal monitors
    Tiltmeter
  • Responses- communication:
    Weekly report
    Monthly radio station
    Education