LEDC Montserrat volcanic eruption 1995-97
Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean. There is a volcanic area located in the south of the island, called Soufriere Hills.
The volcanic peak in this area is called Chances Peak, which had been dormant for over 300 years. Then in 1995, the volcano began to give off warning signs of an eruption (small earthquakes and eruptions of dust and ash). Once Chances Peak had woken up it then remained active for a period of 5 years. The most intense eruptions occurred in 1997.
Montserrat is a small island is situated in the Caribbean and 12 miles long and 7 miles wide.
It is known as the 'Emerald Island' and is mountainous with plenty of woodland. It has attracted many rich people to the island and was famous for rock stars recording their
However much of the population are poor and rely on farming which is for their subsistence. Before the eruption of 1995, over 12,000 people lived on the island but less than 5000 do today
The Causes of the Montserrat Eruption
Montserrat lies on a compressional plate boundary. The volcano is caused by subduction of the North American/Atlantic plate under the Caribbean plate. As the two plates merge the oceanic plate is forced down or sub ducted under the continental plate. As it is forced down pressure increases which triggers earthquakes and at the same time heat produced by friction melts the descending crust to form molten magma. The hot magma tries to rise to the surface and when it succeeds will form a volcano such as the one in Montserrat.
The story of the eruptions - 1995 - 1997
1992 - The first Earthquake
1995 - The volcano erupts after being dormant for 500yrs
1996 - The volcano continued to erupt and became more violent causing
increased damage.
1997 - Large eruptions continued with the dome
collapsing and large pyroclastic flows affecting much of the island
The Primary effects of the eruption
• 2/3 of the...