Tremor starting at 2100 lasted about 40 minutes and may have been associated with a minor increase in venting. Small earthquakes associated with dome growth were recorded on 7 April. Both the 1979 and 1902 explosive eruption cycles at La Soufrire were quite significant, ranking. The viscosity of the new lava is high so that even if the dome grows to the point at which its flanks overlap the present crater rim, it is unlikely that molten lava will escape down the mountainside. The present rate of drop in water level is 4 inches per day, but the lake has finally reached its pre-eruption level, 85 feet below 3 November datum. Information Contacts: Card 1321 (01 December 1971) Haraldur Sigurdsson, Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. 2020: December ", Card 1358 (23 February 1972) Crater observations 12-16 February; island growth continues. Several vents were either visible or inferred from points of emissions. Periods of tremor and near-constant swarms of LP and hybrid events were recorded on 16 April. The lake temperature remains between 79-80C at the margin of the lake. Resulting pyroclastic flows traveled about 6 km WSW. The height of the lava dome has increased by an average of about 1.5 ft/day and the lake water has continued to drop at a mean of 9 in/day. Chemical analysis of Soufriere St. Vincent samples from the island in the crater lake collected on 13 December 1971. These minor explosions accompanied by rockfalls are the most likely source of the numerous minor tremors which are recorded by the seismographs close to the summit. On 1 January 2021 a new seismic station was installed at Georgetown, on 10 January one was installed in Owia, followed on 15 January by another on the upper S flank, station SSVA at the summit on 18 January, and in Fancy on 21 January. Expand each entry for additional details. Around 2100 the seismic network recorded multiple lahars, though their location could not be determined. A large explosion at 0415 on 12 April produced an ash plume that rose to 12.8 km (42,000 ft) a.s.l. Robertson R E A, 1995. Pyroclastic flows overnight were channeled to the E into the Rabacca River drainage. The next evening, the NASA aircraft's lidar detected significant quantities of ejecta in the stratosphere, in patches 0.5-3 km thick with a base altitude of about 18.7 km. The eruption of 1979 was characterized by ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and lahars, in addition to a series of Vulcanian explosions during 13-26 April 1979 that destroyed the lava dome in the summit crater, which had formed during a 1971 effusive eruption (SEAN 04:04). Activity during March 2021. Operator: madinina.webcam Webcam Tartane, Martinique - 63.5 miles from Soufriere: La Caravelle Operator: madinina.webcam On 22 April at 1108 explosions generated an ash plume that rose to 8 km altitude and drifted mainly N over the ocean (figure 31). Since the recent beginning of the rainy season, large quantities of tephra have been eroded from Soufrire's flanks. Beginning around 3 May 1979 another lava dome began to form in the main crater (SEAN 04:05; Shepherd et al., 1979) that continued to grow until the end of October 1979, expanding to 850 m in diameter and 120 m high (SEAN 04:11; Cole et al., 2019). On 6 May government authorities lowered the Alert Level to Orange for Soufrire St. Vincent (often simply referred to as La Soufriere) based on recommendations from University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC). During that time the dome grew and expanded to the W, produced small, hot rockfalls, had a blocky appearance, and continued to emit gasses and steam. Daily satellite-based measurements of SO2 were notable beginning on 9 April. Data is the average of three determinations; analysis was done by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). During 17 and 18 April the average SO2 flux was 232 and 391 tons/day, respectively. The VAAC noted that at 1850 a new ash emission rose to 7.6 km (25,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash venting occurred through the night, causing ashfall across St. Vincent and reaching Barbados, about 165 km E, significantly impacting residents on that island. Between 21 August and 23 September, the mean diameter of the lava body grew from 832 m to 840 m, covering about 60% of the crater floor, and its maximum height increased 1 m to 131 m. Its volume was calculated at 37.6 x 106 m3. 2005: February, Sources: University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC); National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Occasional satellite images of the summit showed a series of changes to the new crater, centered in the SW part of the summit crater. The dome summit was 295 ft. above current lake level on 27 February. Comparable periods of between six months and three years have been reported for dome building at volcanoes in other parts of the world. Courtesy of the Seismic Research Unit. Card 1366 (20 March 1972) Crater observations, 29 February-12 March. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). and drifted mainly ENE. When the summit was not obscured by clouds, gentle but continuous steam emission was visible. It is, however, similar to the second half of the two large historic eruptions of Mt. A persistent thermal anomaly had been identified in satellite data over the previous couple of days, which is what prompted the NEMO field visit. Analysis of infrared imagery from NOAA's SMS-1 weather satellite indicates that most of these high eruption clouds were fed briefly (less than 1/2 hour) by the volcano. 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. Table 4. This was the first explosive eruption at the volcano since 1979. Credit: University of the West Indies. After that it grew about 15 m to the NW and SE, according to 11 and 15 February reports (figure 13). An explosive eruption began at 0840 on 9 April when an ash plume rose to 8 km (27,900 ft) a.s.l. The number of events sharply declined after July but continued intermittently through November 2020. The situation in the crater remains the same as it has been for more than a month. NEMO reported that 12,775 people were displaced by 19 April, with 6,208 people in 85 public shelters and 6,567 people (1,800 families) in private shelters. It was approximately 900 m N to S, 750 m E to W, and at least 100 m deep, based on RADAR data (figure 29). Information Contacts: University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC), University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies (URL: http://www.uwiseismic.com/); National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bise, PO. Subsequent explosive events were reported at 1115, 1700, and 2050 on the 13th, 0300 and 1200 on 14 April, 1705 on 17 April, 0635 on 22 April, and 2355 on 25 April. There were no casualties caused by the eruption. The island is now 145 feet in height above water level, but its growth has decelerated in the last few days. The small number of flow front rock avalanches observed during their 4-hour stay may indicate a rate of extrusion substantially lower than in late April. Few, but intermittent, rockfall events, VT earthquakes, and an increasing number of small LP and hybrid earthquakes were detected through 21 April (see figure 26). To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The most noticeable feature of this period has been the very small number of crater tremors, and no tremors have been recorded since 7 March. The mean diameter of the lava extrusion increased from 820 m on 4 August to 832 m on 21 August, but the highest point has remained at 130 m above the crater floor since 11 August, after 13 m of vertical growth from 10 July to 11 August. We therefore expect that as the present eruption proceeds, lavas with progressively lower silica content will be erupted. A series of Vulcanian explosions began at 0630 on 13 April and lasted about 30 minutes. info@greenfigresort.com reservations@greenfigresort.com Tel. Sulfur dioxide emissions were 232 and 391 tons per day on 17 and 18 April, respectively. Measurements during 11-13 April showed similar results of 0.4-0.6 Tg SO2 depending on altitude. The eruption of Soufrire volcano, St Vincent AprilJune 1979. Soufrire St. Vincent is monitored by the SRC assisted by the Soufrire Monitoring Unit (SMU) from the Ministry of Agriculture in Kingstown. Successive explosions and ash pulses fed the plume for hours and it rose to 16 km (52,000 ft) a.s.l. Confirmed Eruption, 2020 BCE 75 years Sentinel-2 infrared satellite imagery detected some of this thermal activity during late March and April in the summit crater, though visibility was not entirely clear due to clouds (figure 35). 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). Rockfalls continue to be frequent. During 20-21 April seismicity was characterized by a few rockfalls and volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes, and an increasing number of small long-period (LP) and hybrid earthquakes. The survey indicates a maximum depth of 33 fathoms in this profile, at a distance of 38 fathoms from the S shore. Gas emissions persisted in the summit area from the top of the dome and along the contact area between the pre-existing 1979 dome and the 2020-21 dome, damaging vegetation on the SW side of the volcano. The water level was 94 ft on 23 April, 95 ft 6 inches on 7 May and 96 ft on 11 May. doi:10.1038/282024a0. A few small explosions have taken place from the dome, but none were large enough to project material above the rim (about 300 m above the crater floor). A team visited the dome on 19 and 23 March to make observations, take measurements, and maintain monitoring equipment. Max VEI: 1, 1812 Apr 27 - 1812 Jun 9 (?) The new dome had spread over the remnants of the old crater lake by about 20 May, but a new lake had begun to form at the beginning of June because of the onset of the rainy season. The NE rim of the 1.6-km-wide summit crater is cut by a crater (500 m wide and 60 m deep) that formed in 1812. Compared to the previous drone survey on 12 February, the dome had grown roughly 6.3 million cubic meters. Richard Fiske and Haraldur Sigurdsson descended into Soufrire's crater on 18 June. Lahar deposits were reported in the Sandy Bay area. The temperature was 40C on 15 May, 41C on 18 May, 40C on 22 May, and 41C on 25 May. La Soufrire, a stratovolcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, began an effusive eruption on 27 December 2020. Geotherm. | July Height of the lava island has remained constant at 226 feet above 3 November datum since 20 March, or some 316 feet above present water level. Almorales, Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. Card 1336 (29 December 1971) Haraldur Sigurdsson and J.P. Shepherd, Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies. On 19 March the dome was 105 m tall, 921 m long, and 243 m wide, with an estimated volume of 13.13 million cubic meters, based on drone surveys (figure 18). Confirmed Eruption, 1600 BCE 75 years Most of the evidence tends to suggest that there is a slight new lava being extruded at a slower rate into the crater, but whether this decrease in activity is temporary or not is too early to comment on at this stage. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Courtesy of the Seismic Research Unit. . The rates of those events dropped again, at around 0100 on 19 April. Confirmed Eruption, 2200 BCE 150 years Revegetation of the areas devastated by the 1979 eruption had begun by mid-June. During 14 April seismicity continued to be characterized by episodes of tremor, about 13-15 hours apart, separated by swarms of small, long-period (LP) earthquakes. Seismicity began to increase in early November through 23 December 2020, which included 126 earthquakes described as volcano-tectonic events and rockfall signals that were captured on one reliable seismic station (SVB) located 9 km from the volcano. At 1400 the rate of the earthquakes started to decline and then significantly dropped at 1600, though small VT events continued through 1800. Information Contacts: H.J. A NASA P-3 Electra aircraft, equipped with lidar, a 10-stage quartz-crystal microbalance, and an NO2 remote-sensing instrument, flew through the periphery of the 17 April cloud minutes after it was ejected. Sulfur dioxide emissions were measured from a boat near the W coast, yielding a flux of 208 tons per day on 9 May. Fumarolic activity from the top of the dome was moderately strong during the early stages of its growth, but had stopped by 20 May. No further eruptive activity took place until December 2020, when a new lava dome began to grow SW of the pre-existing 1979 lava dome, accompanied by increased seismicity, crater incandescence, and gas-and-steam emissions. La Soufrire on the island of St. Vincent, which last erupted in 1979, has a long and tragic history of powerful but mercurial blasts. Consequently, it was impossible to carry out a complete sounding survey. The Seismic Research Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines reported that during an overflight at 1600 on 31 December scientists confirmed that the new lava dome on the WSW edge of Soufrire St. Vincents 1979 lava dome continued to grow. Latest nearby quakes. 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. A third explosive series began at 1835 (figure 23). University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that seismicity at Soufrire St. Vincent (often simply referred to as La Soufriere) remained low during 17-24 May, with a few long-period and volcano-tectonic earthquakes occasionally recorded. It appears that La Soufrire on St. Vincent has taken a decidely more explosive turn. 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. NEMO reminded the public to avoid the volcano and that descending into the crater remained extremely dangerous. 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. Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. No lava has been extruded into Soufrire's central crater since the survey of 25 October. 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. Robertson R, 2005. The Alert Level was raised to Red at around 1830, and the Prime Minister issued an evacuation order for the Red Zone at the N part of the island, affecting 16,000-20,000 people. Explosive activity of the last 1000 years at La Soufrire, St Vincent, Lesser Antilles. Rate of lava extrusion in the summit crater of Soufrire St. Vincent, 25 May-25 October 1979, calculated by John Tomblin. Further, we had just completed a GPS campaign on the island during January 2005, which revealed nothing unusual. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The island has now reached a height of 120 feet above water level and continues to grow in area as new lava spreads laterally in the lake. The water level continued to decrease, but at a slightly higher average rate, from 1.5 inches/day to 2.0 inches/day. 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. 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. The frequency of crater tremors continued on a greatly diminished scale and only six tremors were recorded during the past three weeks. An "explosive" volcanic eruption has blanketed the Caribbean island of St Vincent in ash and smoke and forced thousands of people out of . The mudflows disrupted road crossings in the Rabacca Valley (E flank) but otherwise did little property damage. 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