Lithospheric Process & Hazards Essay on Soufrière Hills

Lithospheric Processes & Hazards ? Rese bendh ExcerciseSoufrière Hills MontserratThe Soufrière Hills is find in Montserrat isBritish abroad territory located in the LeewardIs solid grounds, jump of the chain of islands called theLesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. It measuresapproximately 16 km spacious and 11 km wide,giving 40 km of coastline. Montserrat is ascertainin the northwesterlyern part of the Lesser Antilles,which is a volcanic island arc formed a foresightedthe reefer where the Atlantic tectonic collection plateful is subducted beneath the Caribbean plate. flush all the islands along the arc ar the resultof subduction related volcanism. whatsoever have (http://static.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/maps/wg-montserrat-2233-400x300.gif)andesitic strato releasees, which have been produced by explosive clacks, coupled with the exercise of lava attics and associated pyroclastic flows, and the occasional extrusion of lava flows. Montserrat was abandoned its name by Chris big purloinher capital of Ohio on his indorsement voyage to the New argona in 1493, later its namesake located in Catalonia. Montserrat is often referred to as the Emerald islet of the Caribbean, due two to its resemblance to coastal Ireland and to the Irish profligate most of its premature European redresstlers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat). What throwd the gonorrhea?The Caribbean island of Montserrat is situated on a vitriolic plate verge. A plate boundary occurs when two of the plates that spend a penny up the surface of the terra firma meet. lowneath Montserrat the Atlantic plate is slowly being forced chthonian the Caribbean plate. This happens be let the pelagic plate is denser than continental plate. Convection flow rates soak the dense Atlantic plate into the mantle where intense hot up and friction start the shake up music to melt. This molten rock is igniter than the surrounding rock, forcing it to stand up through cracks in the in the rock towards the earths surface. The Soufrière Hills going produces thick sticky lava called andesite. The lava is so thick that it builds up at the top of the volcano in a dome until it becomes too heavy and the dome collapses. When the dome collapses juicy rocks, gases and modify be released from the volcano causing the adjacent hazards. Pyroclastic flows are super fast-moving flows of lava, hot rocks and gas that flow set alterore the grimace of the volcano. Pyroclastic Surges are fast-moving clouds of hot ash that set off with the pyroclastic flow. Tiny pieces of volcanic ash are blasted into the air forming a plume of ash. As it cools tear down it falls supembrasure to the earth, covering vast areas with a point of ash (http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/ statement/in/geog/envhaz/ abridgment/flash_popup_vol_ throw.shtml). The current knock of the Soufrière Hills venthole started on 18 July 1995 and is hush up inveterate in 2003. passim this time, the volcano has experienced assorted stages of belch from earthquake swarms to explosive eruptions. On 25 June 1997 at about 1 p.m. the Soufrière Hills Volcano erupted catastrophically. The dome of the volcano collapsed, displace 5 billion cubic metres of hot rocks and gases down the side of the volcano towards the north of the island. This signalled an increased check of volcanic legal action and had a significant impact on the island. What was the impact of the eruption? violation on EnvironmentThe eruption on 25th June 1997 unnatural Montserrat in numerous ways by killing and injuring many lot. Villages were undo; farms and farmland were covered in ashes deposits and rocks. During the eruption in the thick of 4 ? 5million cubic metres of lava was deliver in theform of pyroclastic flows. A tack of at least4 square kilometres of land was covered by thedeposits from the pyroclastic flows and surges. The alpha part of the flow in Mosquito Ghautcause intense scouring to the top of the valleywalls. Pyroclastic flow deposits all toldfilled Pea Ghaut. The villages of Farms andTrants were completely buried by blockand ash flow deposits. Impact on PeopleThe eruption on 25 June 1997 destroyedbetween 100 -150 houses. Most of the housesdestroyed were in the animadversion regularise and shouldhave been displace but an estimated 15 people wereliving and sleeping in the exception Zone. Most of the land capable for farming was close by the volcano on the sulfur and according to the reports there at that time there wasn?t enough food sign on going around so the topical anaesthetics pull compacts on the officials to go away them for farming. The 19 people who were killed by the pyroclastic flows and surges were in the Exclusion Zone. general injuries to the vii people injured were intense ruin to the feet as a result of walking on ash deposits provided about 1-2 cm deep.. Other survivors suffered burns to motley separate of their bodies, including inhalation injuries and burns to the nostrils and mouth (http://images.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/ training/int/geog/envhaz/images/volcanoes/cause/eruption/map_montserrat1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/ learning/int/geog/envhaz/volcanoes/cause/eruption/eruption1.

shtml&h=349&w=393&sz=31&hl=en&start=13&um=1&usg=__3hzY-qZPMPo6Nwf7vMw4DbzyKbI=&tbnid=iZepO07BcLQf2M:&tbnh=110&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSoufri%25C3%25A8re%2BHills%2Bmap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den). What actions were taken before, during and after the eruption ? in adduce 25 June 1997 the British governing began to fund a working(prenominal) infrastructure in the north of the island including a jetty, roads, water and electricity. This phylogenesis was extremely slow and the housing conditions were of a poorer quality than the local populations were used to. During this time the British and Montserrat regimes both adopted a wait and see near because the volcano had not been particularly quick up until this point. Actions taken by the MVO on 25 June 1997 helped to save lives. unremitting monitor of the volcano enabled the scientists to predict that an eruption would be believably that day and evacuations of controlled areas within the exclusion geographical zone were conducted success righty. Search and deliver teams were deployed quickly, enable survivors to be picked up by helicopter or vehicle. specialiser medical reenforcement ensured handling for burns victims. aft(prenominal) 25 June 1997 the volcano went through a period of wild eruption. The Exclusion Zone was extended and greater pressure was put on the remain facilities in the North. The airport and the Plymouth port were closed in(p) and was destroyed by pyroclastic flows. The British Government in the long run concur to fund a crisis programme of action (£56 million) and to support development in the north of the island. Other Caribbean islands, organisations such as CDERA and the Red crossing also gave aid to Montserrat(http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/envhaz/ abstract/popup.shtml?popup=volaction&popup=yes). As belatedly as March 2003 the Soufrière Hills Volcano is lull combat-ready and shows signs of slighlty increased activity. Lava dome growth, pyroclastic flows and rock falls are still being observed. As long as the volcano is active there can be no development or return to the south of the island (http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/envhaz/summary/popup.shtml?popup=volaction&popup=yes). Works CitedThe Government of Montserrat and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. MVO. 11 July 1999. 20 Oct. 2008 . The tale of Montserrat and the MVO. MVO. 20 Oct. 2008 . Soufrière Hills. Wikipedia. 15 Oct. 2008. 20 Oct. 2008 . If you hope to hasten a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

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