Montserrat Volcano Observatory


Daily Report
Report for the period 6 pm 9 November
to 6 pm 10 November 1997


During the reporting period seismic activity has remained high.

The hybrid swarm which started in the early hours of yesterday morning continues. Individual earthquakes are relatively small but the swarm is quite intense. There has been an increase in the number of rockfall events during the day. In the 24 hours until 4pm today there have been 434 hybrid earthquakes, 27 long period earthquakes and 20 rockfall events. It is likely that this hybrid earthquake swarm could culminate in pyroclastic flows which could travel down any of the ghauts around the volcano.

The dome is still growing and activity at this time is concentrated in the sector above Galways which has experienced several rockfalls and pyroclastic flows during the reporting period. It is still possible that an explosive eruption could be initiated with little warning.

Dust concentrations today are low. The 24 hour average level of ash in the atmosphere was 13 micrograms per cubic metre at Mongo Hill and 18 micrograms per cubic metre in the Olveston area.


Montserrat Volcano Observatory