Geologic Background:
Soufriere St. Vincent is the northernmost and
youngest volcano on St. Vincent Island. The 1.6-km-wide
summit crater, whose NE rim is cut by a crater formed in
1812, lies on the SW margin of the 2.2-km-wide Somma
crater, which is breached widely to the SW as a result of
slope failure.
Historic Activity:
- At least 8 eruptions since 1718 include 2 major
explosive events.
- Eruptions in 1718, 1784, 1812, 1814, 1880, 1902-1903,
1971-1972, and 1979.
- It has a history of violent eruptions, including
those in 1718, 1812, and 1902, when 1,600 people were
killed only hours before the disastrous Pelée
eruption 165 km to the north.
- A lava dome was emplaced in the summit crater in
1971, forming an island in a lake that filled the crater
prior to an eruption in 1979. The lake was then largely
ejected and the dome was replaced with another.
Recent Activity:
- Evacuation in 1979 prevented a potential repeat of
the tragedy of 1902, when 1600 deaths occurred, largely
from nuees ardentes. No activity since 1979.
Data Sources:
- Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 4, No. 4 to V. 4, No.
11).
|