Volcanic and seismic activity at Soufrière Hills remained at elevated levels during 8-15 July. The seismic network recorded 10 hybrid and two volcano-tectonic earthquakes during the report period. Also, several ash-venting events occurred and there was an explosion on 9 July at 2000. The average daily sulfur-dioxide flux remained above the average for the eruption. FTIR measurements of the hydrogen chloride to sulfur dioxide ratio on 12 July were consistent with values measured since the current eruptive pause began in July 2003.

Geological Summary. The complex, dominantly andesitic Soufrière Hills volcano occupies the southern half of the island of Montserrat. The summit area consists primarily of a series of lava domes emplaced along an ESE-trending zone. The volcano is flanked by Pleistocene complexes to the north and south. English's Crater, a 1-km-wide crater breached widely to the east by edifice collapse, was formed about 2000 years ago as a result of the youngest of several collapse events producing submarine debris-avalanche deposits. Block-and-ash flow and surge deposits associated with dome growth predominate in flank deposits, including those from an eruption that likely preceded the 1632 CE settlement of the island, allowing cultivation on recently devegetated land to near the summit. Non-eruptive seismic swarms occurred at 30-year intervals in the 20th century, but no historical eruptions were recorded until 1995. Long-term small-to-moderate ash eruptions beginning in that year were later accompanied by lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows that forced evacuation of the southern half of the island and ultimately destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, causing major social and economic disruption.

Source: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO)