Rockfalls continue to be frequent. Ash rises into the air as La Soufriere volcano erupts on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent, seen from Chateaubelair, Friday, April 9, 2021. Sources: University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC); National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Simon Carn; Reuters; UN News Centre; Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO); ReliefWeb; Capella Space; Nation News; Caribbean Handbook on Risk Information Management. Last Name. The following 270 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). 54m ago distance 2.3 mi. and drifted mainly N over the sea. The SE part of the dome was in line with the pre-existing fumarolic area on the 1979 dome. We determined very early on that nothing serious was happening, since we have seismic stations both on the volcano and throughout the island [figure 3], none of which had recorded any increased seismicity. "There have been no volcanic explosions, or any emission of steam or gases, and all that has happened since 31 October is the extrusion of a very viscous dome-forming lava onto the floor of the crater. Daily satellite-based measurements of SO2 were notable beginning on 9 April. Pyroclastic flows overnight were channeled to the E into the Rabacca River drainage. Continuous harmonic tremor began to build an hour later, and within 2 hours was saturating the seismometers. Information Contacts: H. Sigurdsson, Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. Information Contacts: Richard Robertson, Seismic Research Unit, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad (URL: http://www.uwiseismic.com/); Aisha Samuel, Soufriere Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, St. Vincent. This depth is 48.5 ft less than the maximum obtained during the previous sounding survey on 27 January, and confirms that the lava dome is still expanding horizontally across the former lake floor. All evidence therefore leads us to the conclusion that the likelihood of explosive activity is very small at this time and will become progressively smaller. Additional satellite data. West Indies. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); NASA Global Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring Page, Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC), 8800 Greenbelt Road, Goddard, Maryland, USA (URL: https://so2.gsfc.nasa.gov/); MIROVA (Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity), a collaborative project between the Universities of Turin and Florence (Italy) supported by the Centre for Volcanic Risk of the Italian Civil Protection Department (URL: http://www.mirovaweb.it/); Sentinel Hub Playground (URL: https://www.sentinel-hub.com/explore/sentinel-playground); Jenni Barclay, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK (URL: https://research-portal.uea.ac.uk/en/persons/jenni-barclay); Ian Renfrew, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK (URL: https://research-portal.uea.ac.uk/en/persons/ian-renfrew). Card 1319 (23 November 1971) Eruption confirmed; island appears in crater lake. The events were located at depths of 6 km, slightly deeper than the swarm events recorded during 22-25 March, located at revised depths of 3-5 km. Explosions and pyroclastic flows were reported on 13 April, as well as lahars in the Sandy Bay area. The northern peak was at 216 feet and the eastern summit at 201 feet. This is the first explosive eruption at La Soufrire since 1979, although lava has been erupting at the summit since late December 2020. The highest point on the island is still 226 feet relative to the 3 November datum. A new effusive eruption had built a lava dome in the summit crater of Soufrire St. Vincent when observed on 29 December by personnel from the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Alert Level was raised to Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). By late October, extrusion of lava into Soufrire's central crater had virtually stopped. The only local seismic activity consists of small tremors which continue to originate close to the crater. Max VEI: 4, 1814 Jan 9 - 1814 Jan 9 These indicate that the dome is approximately circular in plan at water level with dimensions on 11 February of 590 m (1,970 ft) from N to S, and 540 m (1,800 ft) from E to W. On 28 February, a re-triangulation by theodolite was carried out by R. Waters of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys. Confirmed Eruption Source: University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC). Since 20 March the island in the middle of the crater lake has maintained a maximum height of 226 feet on he western summit. Max VEI: 1, 1812 Apr 27 - 1812 Jun 9 (?) Sources: University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC); National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Advanced geospatial Data Management Platform (ADAM). | March A Long Way Still to Go to Create Representative Volcanology, 5 Scientific Assumptions That are Surprisingly New. The water temperature at the lake edge, which remained constant between 56-60C during the previous four weeks, dropped to a new low of 53.5C on February 27. Webcam view of the lava dome at La Soufriere on St. Vincent on April 8, 2021. Credit: University of the West Indies. This part is the "red zone" of the volcanic hazard maps for St. Vincent and upwards of 16,000 people live in the region. Frequent explosive eruptions after about 4,300 years ago produced pyroclastic deposits of the Yellow Tephra Formation, which cover much of the island. J. Tomblin reports the following. Compared to the previous drone survey on 12 February, the dome had grown roughly 6.3 million cubic meters. A swarm of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes began at 0638 on 5 April. Tephra is a lot less dense than dense rock: you get a larger volume out than fits in the hole. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Satellite data confirmed that explosions had excavated the 2020-2021 lava dome and parts of the 1979 dome, leaving a large crater. Information gained since our last report gives grounds for optimism with regards to events in the Soufrire and we consider that the probability of a violent eruption is decreasing. Confirmed Eruption J. Volcanol. On 27 December UWI-SRC and NEMO reported that an effusive eruption had begun, which was characterized by a new lava dome in the main crater on the SW perimeter of the 1979 dome (figures 6 and 7). The period of tremor lasted until about 2100 and was followed by ongoing small LP and hybrid events. J Petr, 39: 1721-1764. https://doi.org/10.1093/petroj/39.10.1721. . Anderson T, Flett J S, 1903. At 0300 on 29 April, the seismicity that had accompanied the eruption since 12 April ended almost completely, and there have been virtually no local earthquakes since then. As a result, the Volcanic Alert Level (VAL) was raised to Red (the highest level on a four-color scale) at 1830 and the Prime Minister issued an evacuation order for communities in the Red Zone at the N end of the island, affecting 16,000-20,000 people. The La Soufrire volcano first erupted on Friday, blanketing the island in a layer of ash and forcing more than 16,000 people to evacuate their homes. University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that the lava dome in Soufrire St. Vincents main crater that first formed on 27 December continued to grow during 6-12 January. University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that the lava dome in Soufrire St. Vincents main crater continued to grow during 1-9 February. Sentinel-2 thermal satellite imagery detected a thermal anomaly on the SW side of the main crater during clear weather days in January 2021, which represents the active 2020/21 lava dome (figure 16). Information Contacts: Card 1388 (02 May 1972) J.B. Shepherd and W.P. There were no casualties caused by the eruption. A period of tremor at 1649 on 18 April was accompanied by an explosion that sent an ash plume to 8 km altitude and drifted S and SW (figure 30). Multiple significant lahars were generated by rainfall during 28-29 April. No local earthquakes have been recorded by tremors associated with rockfalls on the island continue to occur. Summary of depth and temperature measurements in the Soufriere St. Vincent crater lake, 21 December 1971. Confirmed Eruption, 2020 BCE 75 years These earthquakes were more intense and averaged 50/hour; the 23-25 March swarm averaged 1.5/hour. Then, at 8:51 a.m. on April 9, the National Emergency Management announced La Soufrire had erupted. Katia Krafft climbed to the crater rim on 3 May and observed a small new lava dome growing in the base of the crater, the same area that had been occupied by the center of the now-destroyed 1971 dome. While the N of the island continues to rise, the S end shows little or no increase in height. On 23 April the sulfur dioxide flux was 992 tons per day, recorded again from the W coast. (eds)., 1982, Soufrire Volcano, St. Vincent: Observations of its 1979 eruption from the ground, aircraft, and satellites: Science, v. 216, no. The rate of LP and hybrid events dropped significantly at 2000. Ash venting occurred through the night, causing ashfall across St. Vincent and reaching Barbados, about 165 km E, significantly impacting residents on that island. There have been no deeper or larger earthquakes of the kind which we would expect to see prior to a major increase in the scale of the eruption. The water level continued to decrease, but at a slightly higher average rate, from 1.5 inches/day to 2.0 inches/day. It is completely different in character from the three earlier historic eruptions of the Soufrire, all of which were violently explosive throughout. Pyroclastic flows traveled about 6 km WSW, reached the ocean at Wallibou Bay, and extended past the coastline over the sea. Manizales - Nevado d. Nicolosi - Rifugio S. Cotopaxi Volcano Portici - Mount Vesu. You can switch between the current (or last daylight) view from this cam and the most recent daylight view via the two thumbnail images. The plume collapsed, generating pyroclastic flows that descended several valleys on S and W flanks, reaching the coast at Morne Ronde (4.3 km W), Larikai (3.5 km WNW), and Trois Loupes Bay (3.5 km NW) (figure 25). Smaller lahars were recorded during the mornings of 30 April and 1 May. The swarm was more intense than the previous one, with an average rate of about 50 earthquakes per hour compared with 1.5 per hour during 22-25 March. Information Contacts: Haraldur Sigurdsson and J.P. Shepherd, Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. The tremor episodes were associated with explosive activity and stronger pulses of ash emissions to higher altitudes; ash plumes rose to 10.6-16 km (35,000-52,000 ft) a.s.l. References: Cole P D, Robertson R E A, Fedele L, Scarpati C, 2019. 2020: December Satellite data most recently from 24 April, and seismic data suggested likely cycles of crater dome growth and destruction. Source: National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Confirmed Eruption, 0750 BCE 100 years Fiske R S, Shepherd J B, 1982. - 1718 Mar 29 University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that the lava dome in Soufrire St. Vincents main crater continued to slowly grow during 17-23 March, expanding to the N and S. A team visited the dome on 19 and 23 March to make observations, take measurements, and maintain monitoring equipment. Approximately 7 m of this increase is apparent and not real, i.e., due to the drop in water level between 11-27 February. The October extrusion rate was an order of magnitude less than that of late September and two orders of magnitude less than the May rate. Card 1394 (22 May 1972) H.J. Courtesy of the Seismic Research Unit. Seismicity dropped to low levels after the explosive event and remained at low levels through 27 April; only a few LP, hybrid and VT earthquakes were recorded. Several vents were either visible or inferred from points of emissions. For the first time sulfur dioxide emissions were successfully measured by ground-based instruments; scientists recorded 809 tons per day from a Coast Guard boat along the W coast. A second explosion at 1445 produced a vigorous ash plume that initially rose to 4 km altitude with lightning visible in the plume (figure 22). Five long-period (LP) earthquakes and two brief swarms of VT events were detected between the tremor episodes; ash venting was also observed during the last episode. The likelihood of dangerously explosive activity during the present eruption is now remote. Volcanologists monitoring the volcano will need to see if the new magma erupting is more gas rich, and thus more explosive, to try to understand how this eruption might progress. Visual observations from the Belmont Observatory during the early evening showed that the dome height had increased significantly during the day, and incandescent material over the vent area was visible in webcam images (figure 19). The crater was observed and photographed during 11-12 June; observers saw no signs of lava domes. On 22 March the western summit of the island was the highest point, 226 feet. On 26 March the period of elevated VT earthquakes stopped; only small, low frequency events associated with the growth of the lava dome were recorded. Information Contacts: Card 1321 (01 December 1971) Haraldur Sigurdsson, Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. Gas-and-steam continued to rise from the top of the dome as well as along the contact of the old and new domes. In February 2021 the USGS-USAID (US Geological Survey-US Agency for International Development), through the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP), donated equipment to build four more seismic stations. On 6 May the Volcanic Alert Level was lowered to Orange (the second highest on a four-color scale) because no explosions had been recorded since 22 April and the number of volcanic earthquakes had decreased significantly. It is sponsored by the, The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a, Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (. Ashfalls from most of the explosions were limited to a few centimeters in the N portion of St. Vincent, and small amounts on Barbados, ~150 km E. However, during the 22 April eruption (figure 2) abnormal winds dropped 4 mm of ash on Kingstown (the capital of St. Vincent), on the S end of the island. This eruption is particularly noteworthy because of the wide variety of observations made by various scientific teams (from land, low-flying aircraft, a high-altitude research plane, and from satellites). The water temperature continues to decrease with minor fluctuations. The Alert Level remained at Orange. University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that the lava dome in Soufrire St. Vincents main crater continued to grow during 13-19 January. . However, the rate of extrusion continued to decrease; the late August-late September rate was an order of magnitude less than peak values observed in mid-May. Green Fig Resort & Spa Upper Palmiste Road Soufriere, St. Lucia. The sulfur smell is unusual since the wind direction is such that most of the smell from the fumaroles at the summit of the volcano gets blown out to sea and is usually only smelt by a few residents on the eastern flank of the volcano. Seismicity dropped to low levels after the explosion on 22 April and remained low through 27 April; only a few VT, LP, and hybrid earthquakes were recorded. An explosion at 0615 on 16 April generated an ash plume that rose about 8 km (26,200 ft) a.s.l. A series of Vulcanian explosions that began at 0630 on 13 April, and lasted about 30 minutes, was accompanied by large seismic tremors followed by more than three hours of smaller continuous tremors (figure 26). On 23 March at 1030 the monitoring network recorded a swarm of small low-frequency seismic events that lasted about 45 minutes, which was likely associated with magma movement beneath the dome. Volcanoes of the eastern Caribbean: past activity and future hazards. This showed that the dome had expanded to 640 m (2,130 ft) in N-S diameter at water level and 590 m (1,970 ft) from E to W. This represents an increase in both horizontal dimensions at water level by 50 m in the last 17 days. The highest point on the island maintained its height of 226 feet relative to the 3 November datum. There are four seismometers on St. Vincent now; one on the rim of the crater, two on the crater flank, one in Kingstown. Comparable periods of between six months and three years have been reported for dome building at volcanoes in other parts of the world. This may be a local phenomenon, due to relatively small output of lava into the southern part of the lake in the last few days, and we believe that other inaccessible regions of the lake are hotter. The only noteworthy features of the above figures are that 1) aeolian differentiation of the 7-8 May 1902 ash appears to have been negligible at 100 miles but considerable at the 275-mile range; and 2) pyroclasts erupted at the end of the 1902-03 eruption were about 2% lower in silica than at the beginning of this eruption. 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