Montserrat Volcano Observatory


Daily Report
Report for the period 6 pm 29 December
to 6 pm 30 December 1997


Seismic activity at the volcano has been low today. It is thought that the new dome, inside the scar formed by the boxing day collapse, is growing without much associated seismicity - as has been the case before with new, fast growing domes. Between 16:00 yesterday and 16:00 today 31 hybrid earthquakes, 8 long period earthquakes, 3 volcano-tectonic earthquakes and 37 rockfall signals were recorded by the broadband system. The background seismicity continues to increase in amplitude slightly every 6 hours and it is at these peaks in amplitude that most of the hybrids occur.

No good views of the new crater formed by the boxing day collapse were had today. However a trip was made to sample the deposits in Dry Ghaut, which runs Southeast through the South Soufriere Hills. This flow is very much like that which came down the Belham Valley on 25th June. It is thin and was obviously very mobile, the temperature at the tip of the flow was measured to be 138 ?C.

Air quality at all monitoring stations across the island is good today.

People should remain alert and listen to Radio Montserrat for further information.


Montserrat Volcano Observatory