Soufriere Hills Volcano

[cycloneye]

Latest Update at 14z or 10 AM AST

They did not release graphics for this update.

FVXX23 KNES 251409
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20120325/1408Z

VAAC: WASHINGTON

VOLCANO: SOUFRIERE HILLS 1600-05
PSN: N1642 W06210

AREA: W_INDIES

SUMMIT ELEV: 3002 FT (915 M)

ADVISORY NR: 2012/007

INFO SOURCE: GOES-13. RADIOSONDE. METAR. PILOT
REPORT.

ERUPTION DETAILS: ONGOING GAS AND OCNL LGT VA
EMISSIONS

OBS VA DTG: 25/1415Z

OBS VA CLD: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE FROM SATELLITE
DATA WINDS SFC/FL100 105/10-15KT

FCST VA CLD +6HR: 25/2030Z

FCST VA CLD +12HR: 26/0230Z

FCST VA CLD +18HR: 26/0830Z

RMK: NO VA IS SEEN IN IMAGERY ALTHOUGH THERE IS
HAZE AND VOG OBSERVED WEST OF THE VOLCANO. PILOT
REPORT AT 25/1249Z INDICATED VA FL050/100 NW OF
THE VOLCANO. ...SCHWARTZ

NXT ADVISORY: WILL BE ISSUED BY 20120325/2015Z

[Gustywind]

Something to keep an eye on...

[cycloneye]

Here is the latest about the recent activity of the volcano.

http://www.mvo.ms/whats-new/last-activi ... march-2012

Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano is low with no ash-venting since the episode on 23 March.

The seismic network recorded seven rockfalls, four volcano-tectonic (VT) , three hybrid and three long-period (LP) earthquakes. All the VT, hybrid and LP earthquakes occurred between 23 and 25 March, following the large swarms of VT earthquakes on 22 and 23 March. The magnitude of the largest earthquake in the swarms was 3.5, making this one of the largest VT earthquakes since the start of the eruption. This magnitude is consistent with reports of the earthquake being felt by some residents of Montserrat.

The average sulphur dioxide measurement this week was 1320 tonnes per day with a minimum of 264 tonnes per day and a maximum of 4594 - the third-highest value recorded in the last ten years. High values occurred between 24 and 26 March, averaging 2550 over the three days. The average for the rest of the week was around 400 tonnes per day.

The ash venting and fumarolic activity that started in the morning of 23 March peaked before noon and then slowly declined until it stopped in the late afternoon. The ash venting was pulsatory and sent ash up to about 6000 feet above sea level (3000 feet above the volcano). At its peak, black jets of ash were seen rising about five hundred feet above the floor of the collapse scar. There appears to have been no ash venting after 23 March and observations on 28 March showed only fumarolic activity from the vents inside the collapse scar.

The episode on 23 March is the most significant activity at the Soufriere Hills Volcano since the current pause began more than two years ago. The large VT earthquakes are likely to have been caused by increasing pressure below the volcano from uprising magma. The ash venting was probably phreatic in origin, generated by superheated rock interacting with the groundwater. This type of activity has occurred before at the Soufriere Hills Volcano up to several months prior to restarts in magma extrusion, for example in 2005 and in 2008.

The 23 March 2012 activity cannot yet be assumed to be a precursor to extrusion. However, it is a reminder that the volcano is still active. Pyroclastic flows can occur at any time without warning on any side of the volcano, including Gages from where they can travel rapidly into Plymouth. Lahars (mudflows) remain a hazard. Tracks across the Belham valley are frequently destroyed or heavily modified by lahars, and caution should be exercised crossing the valley during and after rainfall.

[cycloneye]

Some activity on this Saturday the 6th of October.Let's see if this is a precursor of a big eruption or not.

[cycloneye]

It has continued to throw ash all day long on this Saturday the 6th.

[cycloneye]

And it continues to throw more ash on January 16 2013. It doesn't want to go to sleep.

[jaguarjace]

A plume could be seen from Soufriere Hills this morning.

[cycloneye]

Some more activity on 10/9/14 but is like it has been for the past few months.

[cycloneye]

And more activity on this Sunday December 14.This is the most active the Soufriere Volcano in Monterrat has been in the last couple of months as this image shows. The last big eruption was in Febuary 11, 2010 and since that it has been throwing ash every day.See video of that eruption below image.



Video of the Febuary 11 2010 eruption.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeOaErI9r30