Montserrat Volcano Observatory


Daily Report
Report for the period 6 pm 14 November
to 6 pm 15 November 1997


Poor visibility today has again hampered visual observations. Cloud level was low but a diffuse ash plume was seen throughout the day blowing west over the Plymouth area.

The activity has been dominated by regular rockfalls, although there have been a few hybrids and volcano-tectonic earthquakes. The number of events has decreased since yesterday, but some of the rockfall events have been of high amplitude. The rockfalls generate small ash clouds which contribute to the plume and cause light ash fall over Plymouth. The location of the rockfalls is unclear at the moment. No rockfalls have been observed recently on Farrells plain or in Tuitt's ghaut, so it is likely that most activity is still occurring in the south-west sector of the volcano on and around the new dome above Galways.

The dome is still growing and the growth area may switch rapidly at any time. Further rockfalls and pyroclastic flows are likely in any of the ghauts around the volcano.


Montserrat Volcano Observatory