HAZARDS - MONTSERRAT C/S Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the island arc of volcanic islands called where Montserrat is situated?
Lesser Antilles
When was the large scale volcanic eruption?
8th July 1995
What caused the volcano > plate tectonics?
NA plate subducts under the Caribbean
What does the volcano provide for the local economy?
Rich volcanic soil > cash-crops
> LICs primary sector
What type of lava does the volcano have and what does this mean? And what type of volcano is it?
Acidic lava
- high viscosity
Composite volcano
What magnitude was it?
6
How many years dormant was it?
400 years
What were the signs of the volcano?
Microquakes > ongoing eruption
Primary impacts?
- evacuation of Plymouth
- pyroclastic flows of hot ash, rocks, lahars + boulders
- 19 killed, 100 injured (burn + inhalation)
- 2/3 houses burned or flattened by rocks
- 1/2 population evacuated
- changed shape of land
- sewage system damaged
Secondary impacts?
- farmland, vegetation + 3/4 infrastructure destroyed
- respiratory issues
- environmental damage
- serious skill shortage
- population drop (12,000-4,500 (2011))
- economy destroyed (50% unemployed)
- housing shortage (70% incr rent)
Short term responses?
- Montserrat Volcano Obervatory set up (1995) > predicted 1997 eruption
- defined exclusion zones
- NGO’s temporary schools, medical support + food e.g. Red Cross
- warning systems set up > media + Sierens
- USA + British Navy aided evacuation
- £17mn UK aid > temporary buildings + water purification systems
Long term responses?
3 KEY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FROM THE UK
- residency rights (1998) + British citizenship (2002)
- changing capital to Brades (Plymouth)
- vegetation regrowing (fertile soil)
- 2/3 rds of island remain in the exclusion zone
- tourism attraction > new airport + hotel + dive shop
- UK financial aid since 1995 = £420 million
