Montserrat Case Study

Question 1

When did volcanic activity become noticeable in Montserrat?

Answer 1

July 1995

Question 2

How long had the Sourfrière hills volcano been near dormancy for?

Answer 2

Four centuries

Question 3

What organisation sent a team to Montserrat as part of their Volcano Disaster Assistance Program?

Answer 3

The US geological survey

Question 4

What type of plate boundary is Montserrat situated on?

Answer 4

Destructive

Question 5

Where is Montserrat in the world?

Answer 5

In the Caribbean

Question 6

What process caused the formation of the Soufrière hills volcano?

Answer 6

Subduction

Question 7

What is Montserrat part of, an island arc or an island chain?

Answer 7

An island arc which is often commonly associated with a deep ocean trenches

Question 8

What plates were involved in the formation of the Caribbean?

Answer 8

The North and South American plates which are subducted beneath the less dense Caribbean plate

Question 9

Due to the nature of the plate boundary, what happens to the magma in the Soufrière hills volcano?

Answer 9

It is re-melted material which was once of the North and South American plates.

Question 10

What does the lava of the Soufrière hills volcano form at the surface and what regularly happens to this?

Answer 10

At the surface it often forms a dome that periodically collapses, allowing a violent release of gas below

Question 11

What did the early activity of the Soufrière hills volcano involve in 1995?

Answer 11

Ash emissions, steam explosions, numerous earthquakes, the steam and ash reaching heights of more than 2500m

Question 12

The Soufrière hills volcano had a quieter period, when did it erupt again?

Answer 12

March 1996

Question 13

What did the march 1996 involve?

Answer 13

Dome growth and small pyroclastic flows

Question 14

What does pyroclastic literally mean?

Answer 14

Fiery fragments

Question 15

What then happened to the Soufrière hills volcano in early 1997?

Answer 15

Continued dome growth with small explosions and ballistic projectiles

Question 16

When did the Soufrière hills volcano reach its climax?

Answer 16

25 June 1997

Question 17

What did the 25 June 1997 eruption of the Soufrière hills volcano entail?

Answer 17

Extensive pyroclastic flows and 4-6 million m^3 of material exuded

Question 18

Where did most of the material from the 1997 eruption go?

Answer 18

It flowed down the northern flank of the mountain damaging houses and killing some inhabitants

Question 19

How much land did the Soufrière hills main eruptions flow cover?

Answer 19

4km^2 of land and nearly reached Montserrat’s airport

Question 20

How much of Montserrat was considered safe to live on after the activity at Soufrière hills?

Answer 20

40% (40km^2)

Question 21

How many people died in the Soufrière hills eruption?

How many villages were destroyed?

How many homes were destroyed?

Answer 21

1. 19
2. 7
3. 175

Question 22

What was a big problem in Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 22

Homelessness

Question 23

What was destroyed as well as buildings in the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 23

Farmland and forest as well as livestock being killed

Question 24

How much mud and ash covered the capital city of Plymouth after the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 24

10 m

Question 25

What transport links were destroyed in the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 25

The airport and the docking facilities

Question 26

What percentage of Plymouth was destroyed?

Answer 26

80%

Question 27

Since 1997 how active has the volcano been?

Answer 27

Quiet with only minor activity

Question 28

Which major industry in Montserrat was devastated by the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 28

The tourist industry

Question 29

Where did unemployment rise from and to in Montserrat?

Answer 29

7% to 50%

Question 30

How many people left Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 30

7000 this led to a skills shortage which would hinder a rebuilding programme

Question 31

What 5 factors are the social effects of a volcanic eruption governed by?

Answer 31

1. The nature of the volcanic hazard
2. The deaths, injuries and damage incurred
3. The nature and extent of assistance from state, national and international sources
4. The reactions of community leaders to the threat and aftermath
5. Individual and community perceptions of the threat

Question 32

What was set up in Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 32

Exclusion zones

Question 33

How much did the British government offer every adult wanting to leave Montserrat? Why was this a problem?

Answer 33

£2500 community leaders said this was nowhere near enough (they kinda had a point)

Question 34

Where were most people resettled on Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption?

Answer 34

The ‘safer’ north where temporary shelters were set up

Question 35

What were re-established with Montserrat after the eruption?

Answer 35

Air and sea links

Question 36

Where was the capital of Montserrat moved from and to?

Answer 36

Plymouth to Salem

Question 37

What was provided for those resettling in the north?

Answer 37

Areas to farm

Question 38

What was set up in Montserrat after the Soufrière hills eruption which is now run by the British geological society?

Answer 38

The Montserrat volcano observatory

Question 39

How much did the UK government spend, assisting Montserrat?

Answer 39

£100 million

Question 40

What was the name of the new airport opened in Montserrat, how much did it cost and when did it open?

Answer 40

The airport is called Gerald’s it cost £11 million and opened in 2005

Question 41

What was the new port development called in Montserrat?

Answer 41

Little bay

Question 42

Who primarily funded the construction of a new football pitch in Montserrat?

Answer 42

FIFA (they actually did something nice)