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Soufrière Hills Volcano - John Seach
Montserrat, West Indies
16.72 N, 62.18 W,
summit elevation 915 m
stratovolcano
Soufrière Hills is a stratovolcano volcano formed at the junction of the Atlantic tectonic plate and the Caribbean plate. Failed eruptions occurred at Soufriere Hills volcano in 1890's, 1930's, and 1960's.
2008 Activity
Dome growth paused between March 2007 and May 2008. During 25th April to 2nd May the level of volcano-tectonic earthquakes at Soufrière Hills increased, and was the highest since February 2006. On 29 May produced an ash plume to an altitude of 3 km altitude which drifted SW and generated a pyroclastic flow. New lava extrusion from Soufrière Hills started from the west side of the lava dome between the 28th July and 8th August. Lava dome has continued to grow from August to November 2008. On 3rd December 2008, an eruption at Soufriere Hills volcano ejected rocks into the island's abandoned capital Plymouth, setting buildings on fire. Buildings burned for several hours.
1995 Eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano
The first historical eruption on Montserrat was in 1995 following three years of increased seismicity. On 18 July, villagers around Soufriere Hills volcano reported unusually loud rumbling noises coming from the fumarole areas, light ashfall, and a strong sulfur odour. These phreatic eruptions were the first in recorded history at the volcano.
Since then, the eruption has been characterised by the growth of an andesite lava dome with associated pyroclastic flows, vulcanian explosion and debris flows.
There have been five distinct phases to the eruption so far.
1) period of extrusion from 1995 to early 1998, during which the dome grew and collapsed on a number of occasions.
2) residual activity, from early 1998 to late 1999, when there was no extrusion of lava, but several collapses of the dome occurred, as well as small to moderate size explosions.
3) November 1999-July 2003. Renewed extrusion and growth of a large lava dome.
4) Three major collapses during the second phase of dome growth: in March 2000, July 2001 and July 2003.
5) August 2005 - current. Third phase of dome growth.
Soufrière Hills Volcano Eruptions
1995-2009