Montserrat Case Study Flashcards
When did volcanic activity become noticeable in Montserrat?
July 1995
How long had the Sourfrière hills volcano been near dormancy for?
Four centuries
What organisation sent a team to Montserrat as part of their Volcano Disaster Assistance Program?
The US geological survey
What type of plate boundary is Montserrat situated on?
Destructive
Where is Montserrat in the world?
In the Caribbean
What process caused the formation of the Soufrière hills volcano?
Subduction
What is Montserrat part of, an island arc or an island chain?
An island arc which is often commonly associated with a deep ocean trenches
What plates were involved in the formation of the Caribbean?
The North and South American plates which are subducted beneath the less dense Caribbean plate
Due to the nature of the plate boundary, what happens to the magma in the Soufrière hills volcano?
It is re-melted material which was once of the North and South American plates.
What does the lava of the Soufrière hills volcano form at the surface and what regularly happens to this?
At the surface it often forms a dome that periodically collapses, allowing a violent release of gas below
What did the early activity of the Soufrière hills volcano involve in 1995?
Ash emissions, steam explosions, numerous earthquakes, the steam and ash reaching heights of more than 2500m
The Soufrière hills volcano had a quieter period, when did it erupt again?
March 1996
What did the march 1996 involve?
Dome growth and small pyroclastic flows
What does pyroclastic literally mean?
Fiery fragments
What then happened to the Soufrière hills volcano in early 1997?
Continued dome growth with small explosions and ballistic projectiles
When did the Soufrière hills volcano reach its climax?
25 June 1997
What did the 25 June 1997 eruption of the Soufrière hills volcano entail?
Extensive pyroclastic flows and 4-6 million m^3 of material exuded
Where did most of the material from the 1997 eruption go?
It flowed down the northern flank of the mountain damaging houses and killing some inhabitants
How much land did the Soufrière hills main eruptions flow cover?
4km^2 of land and nearly reached Montserrat’s airport
How much of Montserrat was considered safe to live on after the activity at Soufrière hills?
40% (40km^2)
How many people died in the Soufrière hills eruption?
How many villages were destroyed?
How many homes were destroyed?
- 19
- 7
- 175
What was a big problem in Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?
Homelessness
What was destroyed as well as buildings in the Soufrière hills eruption?
Farmland and forest as well as livestock being killed
How much mud and ash covered the capital city of Plymouth after the Soufrière hills eruption?
10 m
What transport links were destroyed in the Soufrière hills eruption?
The airport and the docking facilities
What percentage of Plymouth was destroyed?
80%
Since 1997 how active has the volcano been?
Quiet with only minor activity
Which major industry in Montserrat was devastated by the Soufrière hills eruption?
The tourist industry
Where did unemployment rise from and to in Montserrat?
7% to 50%
How many people left Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?
7000 this led to a skills shortage which would hinder a rebuilding programme
What 5 factors are the social effects of a volcanic eruption governed by?
- The nature of the volcanic hazard
- The deaths, injuries and damage incurred
- The nature and extent of assistance from state, national and international sources
- The reactions of community leaders to the threat and aftermath
- Individual and community perceptions of the threat
What was set up in Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?
Exclusion zones
How much did the British government offer every adult wanting to leave Montserrat? Why was this a problem?
£2500 community leaders said this was nowhere near enough (they kinda had a point)
Where were most people resettled on Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?
The ‘safer’ north where temporary shelters were set up
What were re-established with Montserrat after the eruption?
Air and sea links
Where was the capital of Montserrat moved from and to?
Plymouth to Salem
What was provided for those resettling in the north?
Areas to farm
What was set up in Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption which is now run by the British geological society?
The Montserrat volcano observatory
How much did the UK government spend, assisting Montserrat?
£100 million
What was the name of the new airport opened in Montserrat, how much did it cost and when did it open?
The airport is called Gerald’s it cost £11 million and opened in 2005
What was the new port development called in Montserrat?
Little bay
Who primarily funded the construction of a new football pitch in Montserrat?
FIFA (they actually did something nice)
