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Monserrat Volcano 1995-1997 - Coggle Diagram
Monserrat Volcano 1995-1997
Cause of eruption
The eruption was triggered when
30% of the dome avalanched away
, which decompresses gas-rich magma deeper in the volcano
Why is the area so vulnerable?
The Caribbean Island is located on a
convergent plate boundary
. The Atlantic plate is being subducted under the Caribbean plate, building friction.
The Soufiere Hills volcano is a composite volcano, erupting Andesitic magma
Andesitic magma is viscous, and therefore causes explosive eruptions
Local Impacts
Social
19 people were killed
in 1995 as they stayed to look after their crops
100-150 homes were destroyed
Economic
Unemployment rose due to collapse of the tourist inductry
Environmental
Primary effects such as
pyroclastic flows
and
tephra's
occurred
Secondary impacts such as
lahars
also destroyed large areas
Short Term
Villages destroyed
Farmland covered in rock and ash
Long Term
Residents have turned towards growing some of their own crops, such as sweet potato and papaya, as
frequent ash fall has increased fertility of the soil
Regional Impacts
Social
All 11,00 inhabitants had to evacuate
No vegetation remained
There wasn't enough food to go around due to the loss of farmland
Economic
Airports and seaports were closed
Loss of tourism and income
Farmland and crops were destroyed which reduced profits from sales
Environmental
4-5 million cubic metres of lava was unloaded from pyroclastic flows
At least 4km of land was covered by deposits from the flow
Short Term
Deposits from the ash cloud were limited to areas west and north of the volcano
Long Term
N/A
Global/International Impacts
Social
Diaspora
Migrants settles in many countries, mainly
Antigua
, the
UK
and the
USA
Economic
June 1997
Closed airports and seaports
Further economic loss and social dislocation
Environmental
N/A
Short Term
Neighboring islands were caught out by the ash
Tourism massively suffered
Long Term
The UK's Department for International development was secured
Some of which was spent on reconstruction to help with tourism
Immediate Responses
Evacuation and the abandonment of the capital city occurred
The British government gave money for compensation and redevelopment
Long Term Responses
An
exclusion zone
was set up in the volcanic region
New airports and roads where built
The presence of the volcano did however, result in a
growth of tourism
Warning Signs
In
1995
, there were earthquakes and small eruptions
Lava dome
began to grow
In June 1997, small earthquakes caused a
pyroclastic flow
burying the 'Spanish Point' community
In Septmeber 1997, there were
74
Magmatic eruptions
Hazards
4-5 million m^3 of material released
in 20 minutes
Lava dome
collapsed
Pyroclastic flow and lahars
also followed