Logo link to homepage

Morne Trois Pitons

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 15.37°N
  • 61.33°W

  • 1387 m
    4551 ft

  • 360100
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: August 1976 (NSEB 01:11) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismicity returns to normal levels

The increased seismic activity that began 10 February gradually declined and had returned to normal by late May.

Information Contacts: W. Aspinall, UWI.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Morne Trois Pitons.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

04/1976 (NSEB 01:07) Seismic swarm during February-March

05/1976 (NSEB 01:08) Seismicity continues in May

08/1976 (NSEB 01:11) Seismicity returns to normal levels




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


April 1976 (NSEB 01:07) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismic swarm during February-March

On 10 February a local earthquake swarm began on the island of Dominica. Only 12 events were recorded during the next month, but they increased sharply following a regional earthquake (M 5.9) 170 km to the N on 10 March. The largest event of this swarm was 14 March at 2115, but was not recorded on the WWSSN despite a locally estimated intensity of MM VI. On 30 March a 5-station seismograph net was established by a team from the Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies, Trinidad. They have since located over 40 earthquakes with focal depths of generally <3 km. Activity was generally concentrated in a belt extending beneath Roseau, capital of the island, and up to 2 km offshore to the SW.

. . . There has been neither increased steam venting at the nearby Watten Waven Soufrière (inspected on 11 April by John Tomblin, Director of the Seismic Research Unit) nor additional indications of volcanic activity reported elsewhere on the island. Furthermore, earthquake frequency was decreasing toward the end of April and focal depths appeared to be increasing. Similar earthquake swarms in Dominica have been recorded in 1974 and 1971, but they were felt less in the capital city and were therefore less conspicuous. Apart from a minor phreatic explosion in 1880, there has been no historic volcanism on Dominica. Tomblin interprets the recent earthquake as subsurface migration of magma, but feels that the risk of an eruption in the near future is decreasing. The Seismic Research Unit team is continuing to keep a close watch on geophysical activity in Dominica.

Information Contacts: J. Tomblin, UWI; W. Person, NEIS.


May 1976 (NSEB 01:08) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismicity continues in May

The trend of decreasing earthquake frequency reported last month did not continue into early May nor did the apparent trend toward increasing focal depths. Seismographs recorded 1-3 events per day in early May with depths of 1.2-2.2 km. Scientists from the University of West Indies' Seismic Research Unit have continued monitoring the activity with a telemetered network.

Information Contacts: Seismic Research Unit, UWI.


August 1976 (NSEB 01:11) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismicity returns to normal levels

The increased seismic activity that began 10 February gradually declined and had returned to normal by late May.

Information Contacts: W. Aspinall, UWI.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 2 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0920 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Micotrin?
0920 ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Micotrin?

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow

0790 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Micotrin?
0790 ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Micotrin?

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Morne Trois Pitons.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Morne Trois Pitons.

Photo Gallery

Two large lava domes, Micotrin (lower right) and Morne Trois Pitons (upper right), are located along the margin of a large semi-circular depression on the western coast of central Dominica NE of the capital city of Roseau. The village of Laudat at the lower left lies along a road traversing the flanks of Micotrin on the way to the Atlantic coast. The most recent dated dome-forming eruption at the Trois Pitons/Micotrin complex took place about 800 CE. Morne Diablotins volcano lies in the clouds at the upper left.

Photo by Paul Jackson, 1998 (Seismic Research Unit, University of West Indies).
A roadcut in the Roseau River valley on the outskirts of the capital city reveals deposits of the Roseau Tuff. This thick sequence of pyroclastic flows (sometimes welded), pyroclastic surges, and pumice-lapilli airfall deposits was erupted between about 40,000 and 25,000 years ago.

Photo by Paul Kimberly, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).
Freshwater Lake (L'Etang) lies in the moat between Micotrin lava dome and the eastern wall of the Wotten Waven caldera, partially visible in the background. The 7 x 4.5 x wide caldera is elongated in an SW-NE direction, and it extends on the SW to near the capital city of Roseau. The two coalesced lava domes of Micotrin straddle the NE rim of the caldera. Strong geothermal activity persists in the caldera, the most prominent of which lies near the village of Wotten Waven along the River Blanc and contains numerous bubbling pools and fumaroles.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Morne Trois Pitons in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites