The Soufrière Hills volcano was quiet for the last few months of 2003, following activity in May and July that included significant dome growth (BGVN 28:10 and 28:12). Light ash-venting had last occurred during a period of low-amplitude tremor 3-8 October. A seismic event in mid-January 2004 and a period of tremor and mudflow activity in late February 2004 were followed by renewed eruptive activity on 3 March 2004.

Between 1 October and 18 December 2003 no dome growth was observed, and only a few earthquakes per week were recorded. Beginning 18 December 2003, SO₂ emissions increased markedly from the previous month's average of 500 tons/day (t/d), reaching 3,600 t/d (see table 53). On 18 January 2004, a swarm of low-amplitude long-period (LP) earthquakes began, with ~1,000 separate events over an interval of 36 hours. Fewer than 40 of these earthquakes triggered the automatic seismic-detection systems. Another swarm occurred on 30 January, this time lasting about 30 hours. Again, instruments recorded ~1,000 separate events; these, however, were much weaker and only four triggered the detection systems.

Table 53. Summary of SO₂ emissions recorded at Soufrière Hills, 5 December 2003 to 12 March 2004, using an array of three scanning UV spectrometers. Courtesy of Montserrat Volcano Observatory.

A period of low-level tremor, consisting of many small LP earthquakes, lasted for about 36 hours beginning 21 February. On 24 February heavy rainfall (10 mm in 2.5 hours) resulted in mudflow activity in the Belham valley; signs of mudflows were also observed in Plymouth.

Beginning the week of 27 February, activity increased significantly. On 2 March, a period of low-level tremor included some small hybrid earthquakes. The tremor continued until afternoon on 3 March, when, at around 1444, seismicity greatly increased and an explosion and collapse event occurred. According to reports from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) this was the most significant event since the collapse event of 12-13 July 2003.

The event on 3 March 2004 produced ash clouds that reached altitudes of about 7 km above sea level, and pyroclastic flows were observed in the Tar River, with at least two incidents of flows reaching the sea. Seismicity returned to close to background levels by 1525, but vigorous ash venting continued until the following morning. Low-level tremor accompanied by hybrid earthquakes continued for the next 18 hours, including a series of hybrid earthquakes during the evening of 3 March.

Visual observations first suggested that the 3 March explosion removed the small dome that had grown in the collapse scar in late July 2003. Photographs taken on 28 February and 5 March showed the 3 March collapse to have also removed part of the NW dome remnant originally built up during 1995-1998.

After 3 March, activity remained elevated for several days. A period of low-level tremor occurred on 4 March, beginning at around 1300 and lasting three hours. On 5 March a small explosion was recorded at 1009, followed by a period of ash venting. Between 5 and 12 March activity returned to lower levels, with 1 LP and 15 hybrid earthquakes recorded. On 10 March, however, there was a short (10-20 minutes) period of elevated seismicity early in the morning; later in the day fresh pyroclastic-flow deposits were observed in the upper reaches of the Tar River Valley. During the second half of the week, short episodes of ash and steam venting were periodically observed, and ash fallout occurred as far N as St. Georges Hill.

On 15 March, the Washington VAAC reported a plume of ash extending to the W from the summit. The following day MVO reported a plume extending 250 km (135 nautical miles) W of the volcano. SO₂ emissions fluctuated during February and the first two weeks of March, peaking at 1017 t/d on 1 February and 1250 t/d on 9 March (table 2).

A beautifully illustrated look at the eruption from 1995 to present is now available (Kokelaar, 2002; Druitt and Kokellar, 2002).

References. Kokelaar, B.P., 2002, Setting, chronology and consequences of the eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat (1995-1999), in Druitt, T.H. and Kokelaar, B.P., eds., 2002: The eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat from 1995 to 1999. Geological Society London, Memoir No. 21, p. 1-43.

Druitt, T.H. and Kokelaar, B.P., eds., 2002: The eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat from 1995 to 1999. Geological Society London.

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.

Information Contacts: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Fleming, Montserrat, West Indies (URL: http://www.mvo.ms/); Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), NOAA/NESDIS E/SP23, NOAA Science Center Room 401, 5200 Auth Rd, Camp Springs, MD 20746, USA (URL: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov).