Lava extrusion at Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat continues. Over the past week, dome growth has occurred over a sector extending from the south-west around to the north-east. The eastward-facing lobe has continued to grow on the northeast side of the dome and a central spine was observed on 28 April. Small rockfalls and pyroclastic flows continued to fall from the active eastern flanks of the dome, adding to the talus in the upper reaches of the Tar River valley. Rockfall activity has been accompanied by minor ash venting. Thermal images taken on 27 April indicated some very hot (in excess of 400 degrees centigrade) areas on the eastern flanks of the dome.
Dome observations suggest continued lava extrusion throughout the reporting period. Growth has occurred over a sector extending from the east around to the north. The eastward-facing lobe has continued to grow on the northeast side of the dome and a whale-back feature was observed on 18 April. Numerous small rockfalls continued to fall from the active eastern flanks of the dome, adding to the talus in the upper reaches of the Tar River valley. Rockfall activity has been accompanied by minor ash venting. Due to the unusual wind conditions, the plume has predominantly been transported to the north and northwest shifting to east on 20 April. Due to this and frequent rockfall activity light ashfalls have occurred over much of the island.
mer., 26 avril 2006, 06:00
Observations of Soufrière Hills during 21-28 April revealed that lava extrusion continued. Dome growth occurred over a sector extending SW to NE. The eastward facing lobe continued to grow on the NE side of the dome and a central spine was observed on 28 April.
Read allmer., 19 avril 2006, 06:00
Observations of Soufrière Hills'lava dome during 14-21 April suggested that lava extrusion continued. Growth occurred over a sector extending E to N, and on 18 April observers noted a smooth area of the dome resembling a whale's back. Numerous small rockfalls continued from the active eastern flanks of the lava dome, adding to the talus in the upper reaches of the Tar River Valley.
Read alldim., 16 avril 2006, 17:00
Observations suggest continued lava extrusion throughout the past week. Growth has occurred over a sector extending from the east around to the north, and an eastward-facing lobe has developed on the north east side of the dome.
Read allmer., 12 avril 2006, 06:00
Observations of the lava dome at Soufrière Hills suggested that lava extrusion continued during 7-14 April. Growth occurred over a sector extending E to N, and an eastward-facing lobe developed on the NE side of the dome. Numerous small rockfalls continued from the active eastern flanks of the dome, adding to the talus in the upper reaches of the Tar River valley.
Read allven., 7 avril 2006, 21:29
The lava dome of Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat continues to grow, with focus to the east, where a lava lobe is growing in that direction and the majority of rockfall and pyroclastic flow activity occur. One moderate-size pyroclastic flow occurred at around 10:30 (local time) on Sunday 2 April, resulting in minor ash fall to the west of the island. -->More on La Soufrière Hills volcano
Read allmer., 5 avril 2006, 06:00
Low extrusion rates occurred at Soufrière Hills'lava dome at the beginning of the interval 31 March to 7 April. Continued lava-dome growth was focused E, with a lava lobe growing in that direction and the majority of rockfalls and pyroclastic flows occurring in the SE to NE sector. Photographs taken on 6 April clearly showed slightly elevated extrusion rates with lobe development on the E side of the dome.
Read allven., 31 mars 2006, 20:52
Soufrière Hills volcano's dome growth continues, now focused towards the east, with a lava lobe growing in that direction and the majority of rockfall and pyroclastic flow activity occurring in the SE to NE sector. The largest pyroclastic flows during the past week have travelled up to 2km down Tar River valley.
mer., 29 mars 2006, 06:00
During 24-31 March, lava-dome growth at Soufrière Hills was focused towards the E, with a lava lobe growing in that direction and the majority of rockfalls and pyroclastic flows occurring in the SE and NE sectors of the volcano. The largest pyroclastic flows traveled as far as 2 km NE down Tar River Valley. The sulfur-dioxide flux averaged 523 metric tons per day.
Read allsam., 25 mars 2006, 02:39
The dome growth of Soufrière Hills volcano is now focused in the summit area and towards the east and northeast. The northern side of the lava dome has shown little change during the past week, as MVo reports. Rockfalls and pyroclastic flows have been restricted to the Tar River Valley and they were particularly numerous on 19-20 March. The largest pyroclastic flows have travelled up to 2km down Tar River valley.
Read allmer., 22 mars 2006, 06:00
Observations of Soufrière Hills during 17-24 March revealed that lava-dome growth was focused in the summit area and towards the E and NE. The N side of the lava dome showed little change. Rockfalls and pyroclastic flows were restricted to the Tar River Valley and they were particularly numerous on 19-20 March.
Read allmer., 15 mars 2006, 06:00
Cloudy conditions during 10-17 March limited visual observations of Soufrière Hills, however, lava-dome growth continued to be focused towards the E, NE, and NW as was evidenced by the production of large numbers of rockfalls and small pyroclastic flows. The ground deformation network showed a continuing trend of line shortening across the volcano. The sulfur-dioxide flux averaged 480 metric tons per day.
Read allmar., 14 mars 2006, 03:20
The lava dome of La Soufriere volcano on Montserrat continues its rapid growth. The large spine disintegrated last week and growth of the dome has continued in a northerly direction, reaching a height of approximately 950m.
Read allmer., 8 mars 2006, 06:00
During 3-10 March, lava-dome growth continued at Soufrière Hills in a northerly direction and the dome reached a height of ~950 m. The active lava lobe shed rockfalls and small pyroclastic flows to the W, N, and E. A very vigorous gas vent was seen on the W side of the lava dome on 8 March, above Gages valley.
Read allsam., 4 mars 2006, 17:11
Montserrat's Soufrière Hills volcano's lava dome continues its rapid vertical growth. By 27 February, a large spine about 30m across and at least 30m high had developed at the summit of the lava dome. By 28 February this spine had split into two parts and was leaning precariously to the northeast. At about 9:15pm on 28 February the overhanging parts of the spine disintegrated and generated pyroclastic flows that travelled down Tar River Valley almost as far as the coast. A visible low-altitude ash cloud drifted away to the west of Montserrat.
Read allmer., 1 mars 2006, 06:00
On 26 February, rapid vertical growth of the lava dome at Soufrière Hills was visible on camera images, and by 27 February a large spine about 30 m wide and at least 30 m high had developed at the dome's summit. By 28 February this spine had split into two parts and was leaning precariously to the NE. At about 2115 on 28 February the overhanging parts of the spine disintegrated and generated pyroclastic flows that traveled down the Tar River Valley almost as far as the coast.
Read alldim., 26 févr. 2006, 11:02
The ash plume of an explosion of Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat on February 16, 2006. The ash drifted westward over the Caribbean Sea and over the U.S. Virgin Islands and parts of Puerto Rico. Image: taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard the Aqua satellite. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response team.
The lava dome of Soufrière Hills continues its relaitvely rapdid growth. The youngest lobe appeared on the northwestern side on 10 February and has continued to grow on all sides. It now appears to have infilled the gap between the dome and the northern and western crater walls, which means that it is likely to produce potentially dangerous pyroclastic flows. It has also grown significantly to the east, over-topping the older lobe by the end of the reporting period. Incandescent rockfalls can be seen at night, and since 22 February these have coursed down the northern, eastern, and southwestern sides of the dome and into the Tar River valley.
Read allmer., 22 févr. 2006, 06:00
Photographs of Soufrière Hills taken during 17-24 February confirmed ongoing lava-dome growth. The newest lobe, which appeared on the dome's NW side on 10 February, continued to grow on all sides. It appeared to have filled in the gap between the lava dome and the N and W crater walls.
Read allsam., 18 févr. 2006, 14:58
Details of the recent elevated activity at Soufrière Hills lava dome are summarized in the following excerpt from the activity report published by the MVO (Montserrat Volcano Observatory):
Read allmer., 15 févr. 2006, 06:00
MVO reported that during vigorous ash-and-steam venting at Soufrière Hills on 10 February, a small dark lobe of lava was observed on the western side of the lava dome in the crater. By early on 11 February this lobe had advanced rapidly towards the NE side of the dome and was visible as a steep-sided plateau of lava from inhabited areas around Salem. Photographs from fixed cameras showed continued changes to this lava lobe over the next few days, and the NE margin could be seen glowing at night and shedding rockfalls into the NE part of the crater.
Read allmar., 14 févr. 2006, 17:13
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Ash venting of Soufrière Hills on 11 Feb. 2006 (photo: Roy and Lottie from Travellers Palm)
Volcanic and seismic activity at Soufrière Hills, Montserrat, are at elevated levels. The lava dome continues to grow over a broad sector extending from the SW around to the NE. A pair of spines was observed on the SE side of the dome on 29 January, although both these and the fin-like structures (relatively thin, vertical planar spines) on the SE flank of the dome collapsed recently. Numerous small rockfalls are observed from the S,E, and NE flanks of the lava dome, adding to the talus in the upper reaches of the Tar River Valley.
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Satellite image of Soufrière Hills' ash plume on 9 Feb. (NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC)
mer., 8 févr. 2006, 06:00
MVO reported to the Washington VAAC that increased activity began at Soufrière Hills on 10 February. That day, satellite imagery showed a prominent hotspot at the volcano and a NW-drifting ash plume at a height of ~3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash-and-gas emissions continued through 15 February, producing plumes to a height of ~2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l.
Read allmer., 1 févr. 2006, 06:00
Volcanic and seismic activity at Soufrière Hills were at elevated levels during 27 January to 3 February. Images taken by a remote camera at the beginning of the report period indicated that the lava dome continued to grow over a broad sector extending from the SW around to the NE. A pair of spines was observed on the SE side of the dome on 29 January, although both these and the fin-like structures (relatively thin, vertical planar spines) on the SE flank of the dome collapsed during the report period.
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