Volcanic Eruption- Soufriere Hills, 1997

Created by: Lottie_Anderson
Created on: 18-03-13 16:54


	Volcanic Eruption- Soufriere Hills, 1997
	Causes Montserrat is above a destructive plate margin, where the Atlantic plate is being forced under the Caribbean plate. Magma rose up through weak points under the Soufriere Hills forming an underground pool of magma. The rock above the pool collapsed, opening a vent and causing the eruption.	Effects PRIMARY IMPACTS Large areas were covered with volcanic material- the capital city Plymouth was buried under 12m of ash and mud. Over 20 villages and two thirds of homes on the islands were destroyed by pyroclastic flows Schools, hospitals, the airport and the port were destroyed Vegetation and farmland were destroyed 19 people died and 7 were injured SECONDARY IMPACTS Fires destroyed many buildings including local government offices, the police headquarters and the town's central petrol station Tourists stayed away and businesses were destroyed, disrupting the economy Population decline- 8000 of the island's 12000 inhabitants have left since the eruptions began in 1995 Volcanic ash from the eruption has improved soil fertility Tourism on the island is now increasing as people come to see the volcano PRIMARY IMPACTS People were evacuated from south to north Shelters were built for evacuees Temporary infrastructure was also built The UK provided £17 million of emergency aid Local emergency services provided units to search for and rescue survivors SECONDARY RESPONSES A risk map was created and an exclusion zone was placed. The south of the island is off limits while the volcano is still active The UK has provided £41 million to develop the north of the island- new docks and houses have been built in the north The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been set up to try and predict future eruptions
	Overall summary Montserrat is located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, in the West Indies. The Island of Montserrat measures approximately 16km long and 11km wide, with approximately 40 kilometres of coastline. On July 18 1995, the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano became active. Eruptions destroyed Montserrat's capital city of Plymouth and two thirds of the island's population was forced to flee. The volcanic activity continues to the present, the affected areas currently being mostly in the vicinity of Plymouth, including the docking facilities.

Volcanic Eruption- Soufriere Hills, 1997

Causes

Montserrat is above a destructive plate margin, where the Atlantic plate is being forced under the Caribbean plate.
Magma rose up through weak points under the Soufriere Hills forming an underground pool of magma.
The rock above the pool collapsed, opening a vent and causing the eruption.

Effects

PRIMARY IMPACTS
Large areas were covered with volcanic material- the capital city Plymouth was buried under 12m of ash and mud.
Over 20 villages and two thirds of homes on the islands were destroyed by pyroclastic flows
Schools, hospitals, the airport and the port were destroyed
Vegetation and farmland were destroyed
19 people died and 7 were injured
SECONDARY IMPACTS
Fires destroyed many buildings including local government offices, the police headquarters and the town's central petrol station
Tourists stayed away and businesses were destroyed, disrupting the economy
Population decline- 8000 of the island's 12000 inhabitants have left since the eruptions began in 1995
Volcanic ash from the eruption has improved soil fertility
Tourism on the island is now increasing as people come to see the volcano
PRIMARY IMPACTS
People were evacuated from south to north
Shelters were built for evacuees
Temporary infrastructure was also built
The UK provided £17 million of emergency aid
Local emergency services provided units to search for and rescue survivors
SECONDARY RESPONSES
A risk map was created and an exclusion zone was placed. The south of the island is off limits while the volcano is still active
The UK has provided £41 million to develop the north of the island- new docks and houses have been built in the north
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been set up to try and predict future eruptions

Overall summary

Montserrat is located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, in the West Indies. The Island of Montserrat measures approximately 16km long and 11km wide, with approximately 40 kilometres of coastline.
On July 18 1995, the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano became active. Eruptions destroyed Montserrat's capital city of Plymouth and two thirds of the island's population was forced to flee. The volcanic activity continues to the present, the affected areas currently being mostly in the vicinity of Plymouth, including the docking facilities.

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Volcanic Eruption- Soufriere Hills, 1997