Montserrat

Abstract

Montserrat, a smaller Caribbean island of the Lesser Antilles island arc, has a considerable contribution to the regional geomorphology: the active Soufrière Hills Volcano. The volcano consists of a cluster of andesite domes with flanks of sediment deposited by pyroclastic lava flows. The Soufrière Hills Volcano eruptions can be traced back thousands of years, but more recently the volcano became active again in 1995 with the latest recorded eruption in 2013. The volcanic activity involves both eruptive and dome collapse processes creating ashfalls, debris avalanches, and pyroclastic deposits. Coastal advancement occurs through mudflows, floods, and wind. The Soufrière Hills volcanic eruptions are among the largest volcanic events to occur in the Lesser Antilles and have created substantial exclusion zones on the island for safety. The seismic activity on and near the island and the Soufrière Hills Volcano are monitored closely by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.