HAZARDS - MONTSERRAT C/S Flashcards
What is the island arc of volcanic islands called where Montserrat is situated?
Lesser Antilles
When was the large scale volcanic eruption?
8th July 1995
What caused the volcano > plate tectonics?
NA plate subducts under the Caribbean
What does the volcano provide for the local economy?
Rich volcanic soil > cash-crops
> LICs primary sector
What type of lava does the volcano have and what does this mean? And what type of volcano is it?
Acidic lava
- high viscosity
Composite volcano
What magnitude was it?
6
How many years dormant was it?
400 years
What were the signs of the volcano?
Microquakes > ongoing eruption
Primary impacts?
- evacuation of Plymouth
- pyroclastic flows of hot ash, rocks, lahars + boulders
- 19 killed, 100 injured (burn + inhalation)
- 2/3 houses burned or flattened by rocks
- 1/2 population evacuated
- changed shape of land
- sewage system damaged
Secondary impacts?
- farmland, vegetation + 3/4 infrastructure destroyed
- respiratory issues
- environmental damage
- serious skill shortage
- population drop (12,000-4,500 (2011))
- economy destroyed (50% unemployed)
- housing shortage (70% incr rent)
Short term responses?
- Montserrat Volcano Obervatory set up (1995) > predicted 1997 eruption
- defined exclusion zones
- NGO’s temporary schools, medical support + food e.g. Red Cross
- warning systems set up > media + Sierens
- USA + British Navy aided evacuation
- £17mn UK aid > temporary buildings + water purification systems
Long term responses?
3 KEY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FROM THE UK
- residency rights (1998) + British citizenship (2002)
- changing capital to Brades (Plymouth)
- vegetation regrowing (fertile soil)
- 2/3 rds of island remain in the exclusion zone
- tourism attraction > new airport + hotel + dive shop
- UK financial aid since 1995 = £420 million
