Volcano Case Study: Montserrat (low income country)

Info:

• British colony of Montserrat.
• Northern part of the Lesser Antilles.
• Island arc formed where Atlantic tectonic plate subducts beneath the Caribbean tectonic plate.
• Montserrat is only 16km long and 10km wide - built almost entirely of volcanic rock.
• Lava domes have been created as a result of thick sticky (andesitic) lava building up at the top of the volcano.
• When the lava becomes too heavy, the domes collapse, resulting in andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic flows.
• The volcanic flows have left rich volcanic soil which supports an abundance of tropical vegetation and cashcrops including the soft, locally woven Sea Island cotton.

Eruption:

• On 18th July 1995, the Chances Peak volcano in the south of the island began erupting ash and dust.
• One month later evacuation of the south of the island began, residents moved to churches and halls in the north.
• In April 1996, the entire population of Plymouth (the capital) was forced to leave.
• On 25 June 1997 Chances Peak erupted. The…