1.3 Montserrat

Question 1

Impacts of volcano + causes

Answer 1

• 2/3 island abandoned, 8000 people leave
• 1995 volcanic eruption
• Everyone lives near as small island
• Oceanic NA plate subducts under Caribbean plate, forming Antilles island arc
• Gas escaped pockets causing explosive eruptions
• Pyroclastic flows went down valleys on all sides of the dome and created deltas when formed the sea
• No lava flow
• Hot ash
• Gas and rock flows
• Pyroclastic flows
• Large vertical explosion of gas and ash

Question 2

What were the hazards from the volcano?

Answer 2

Pyroclastic flow - 400 degrees, 100mph caused by collapse of dome causing flows down side. Caused incineration, 19 deaths, destruction, burial of ash

Lahar - rapid movement of ash, mud, water and debris caused by rainfall from storm and hurricanes. Caused burial, destroyed property, crops and land

Ash and tephra - falling fragments - in rock clouds up to 40,000 feet, dark days, vegetation covered in ash, lung disease, breathing difficulties

• Earthquakes
• Volcanic gas CO2 and sulphur released from magma poisoning plants and animals

Question 3

Events of volcanic eruptions

Answer 3

1. 1995 - 5,000 evacuated, dome grew

1997 - pyroclastic flow kills 19, destroyed capital, cloud 9000m high - 35000 by december

98-99 - crater collapsed but most out of danger area

Question 4

What were the effects?

Answer 4

• 5,000 lived in temporary housing for 2 years - few settlements in North however repopulation underway
• Plymouth lost - has all main services - banks, hospitals, businesses and schools
• Collapse of tourism and rice industry
• Unemployment rose from 7% to 50%
• Agricultural decline
• Respiratory problems
• 70% rise in living costs and rent
• Skill shortage from out migration
• Relocation and homelessness
• 19 Farmers killed by pyroclastic flow

Question 5

How is hazard management in Montserrat?

Answer 5

• USGS gave VDAP - volcanic disaster assistance programme. Monitors:
• Seismograph network to measure strength and depth
• Earth deformation and tiltmters
• Satellite GPS used for ground mvements
• COSPEC measures gas emissions
• pH of rainwater measured - indicates gas content
• geologists fly to danger areas to sample flow, cracks and swelling

Hazard mapping:

• Exclusion zone gathered data to create maps, splitting island into zones which modified as volcano developed
• Only 40km2 of the 100km2 island considered safe - Plymouth was mid risk and then was destroyed
• Zone allows scientists to monitor volcano however people may not want to move or return to homes, and another eruption occurs.

Question 6

What were the positive responses?

Answer 6

• 1997 UK gave £2400 per person - was not enough, needed roughly £20,000.
• Funding increased from £10m to £75m for development - development of little bay port to replace Plymouth, conversion of new island hospital, provision of water supplies, £17m in housing and improved air access
• Relocation scheme expected 3,500 to leave island - questioned national pride only for £2400 - low sum to leave families, homes and businesses

Question 7

What were the negative responses?

Answer 7

• UK took too long to act and expect them to just leave the island, caused protests - many unaware of the scheme
• Evacuation to Antigua and Guadeloupe - many did not know and neither country could cope with the refugees
• Families were split
• Exclusion zone still used for cattle
• Pop fell from 11,000 to 4,000 then grew back up to 8,000 by 2002 due to new development - short lasted as fell back to 5,200 as the development failed to bring jobs
• Development of urban centre, little port still under construction
• Development of medical schools and services cancelled - lack aspiration and education
• After airport finished the UK and US cut subsidies to ferries making transport costs high - led to less jobs, less tourism and inflation - many began to leave - aid ‘dried up’
• AID ineffective as small and it is still too hard to reach island
• Island still prone to volcanic damages

Question 8

What were the impacts of Hurricane Hugo?

Answer 8

• 1989, 11 killed, 3,000 homeless
• 98% buildings damaged - state, services, school - cost $360m
• Category 5 hurricane, 160km/h

Question 9

What were the PPM of hurricane hugo?

Answer 9

• Most construction information and lacks building standards
• High population growth and density - more at risk
• Global warming led to further damages
• Some groups took much longer to recover
• Streatham near Plymouth recovered well due to bottom up development - 20 new homes, community centre, water supplies and agricultural practices all done by locals - small village of 300

Question 10

What was recovery like after Hugo?

Answer 10

• Top down programmes implemented - didn’t work due to poor governance
• Should focus on relocation out of flood plains and risk areas - involve mapping
• Long term reduction of degradation, improved housing and living conditions
• External donor and charities focus on how development may combat disasters
• Bottom up approach of Streatham is best approach involving:
• Housing development
• Land use changes
• Environmental protection
• Increased understanding of hazards
• New agricultural practices
• Improve water supply