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Soufrière St. Vincent volcano (West Indies, St. Vincent): lava dome continues to grow

Fri, 15 Jan 2021, 08:28 | BY: MARTIN
Higher and bigger actively lava dome on the edge of the 1979 lava dome (image: @scarlett_jazmin/twitter)
Higher and bigger actively lava dome on the edge of the 1979 lava dome (image: @scarlett_jazmin/twitter)
View of the lava dome (image: UWI-SRC)
View of the lava dome (image: UWI-SRC)
The effusive eruption of the volcano continues.
The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) in collaboration with geologists prof. Richard Robertson, Dr. Thomas Christopher and Dr. Adam Stinton did an aerial flights over the volcano to observe actively growing lava dome. They were able to take thermal images of heat distribution, gas emission and dimension measurement of the new dome.
The actively extruded lava dome area located on the edge of the old lava dome from 1979 continues to grow and is higher and bigger than reported in the last update. It continues to grow laterally towards the east and west.
Thermal images were taken to determine the distribution of heat on the new dome, however conditions and visibility were limited due to dense clouds and not suitable for temperature measuring. The scientists will need to repeat this exercise as the gases coming out of the volcano were moving around and therefore difficult to measure. A plume rising from the lava dome contains sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide does not have a smell and can be fatal for population.
Source: University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre volcano activity update 15 January 2021

Previous news

Wed, 13 Jan 2021, 06:00

Soufriere St. Vincent volcano (St. Vincent) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 13 January-19 January 2021 (New Activity / Unrest)

University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that the lava dome in Soufrière St. Vincent's main crater continued to grow during 13-19 January. ... Read all
Wed, 6 Jan 2021, 06:00

Soufriere St. Vincent volcano (St. Vincent) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 6 January-12 January 2021 (New Activity / Unrest)

University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that the lava dome in Soufrière St. Vincent's main crater that first formed on 27 December continued to grow during 6-12 January. Observations were made during a field visit on 5 January, during a helicopter overflight on 6 January, and based on 9 January drone video. ... Read all
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Stratovolcano 1220 m / 4,003 ft
West Indies, St. Vincent, 13.33°N / -61.18°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5) Soufrière St. Vincent volcano eruptions:
2020-21, 1979, 1902-03, 1880?, 1814, 1812, 1784, 1718 (historical eruptions observed)
Typical eruption style
effusive (lava dome extrusion) and explosive