Montserrat – building a case study

Learning objectives

To build on previous knowledge to create a detailed case study for the island of Montserrat

To understand the causes, effects and responses of the eruption in 1997

TO prepare for a GCSE style exam question

So where is Montserrat?

Complete this sentence:

Montserrat is an island in the… It is near other islands such as…

In the Caribbean 50 miles South

West of Antigua.

Case Study – Montserrat

Using the information from the paper point and hand outs, plus

information from Geog 1 book fill in each section with detail and

explanation.

Describe the location of the island of Montserrat –

Explain, with detail, what has caused the I sland of Montserrat to be a volcanic island – include names

and examples, you may even wish to draw a diagram to help expand your answer.

What are some of the positive and negative impacts of living near a Volcano and why might people

decide to move away whilst others decide to stay?

Positives Negatives Stay Go

We’ll start by investigating it’s

location.

Where is it?

What Island chain is it in?

Latitude and Longitude?

How far from and in what direction from other islands and

famous cities?

Fig 1a – A map showing the location of Montserrat

Background:Montserrat is a tiny island in the Caribbean measuring only 12 km N-S and 8 km E-W (100 km2)

Until 1995, very much an ‘island paradise’ (and some parts still are) with an economy based on farming, fishing and tourism.Relatively poor LEDC with average household income of around £2,800 a year.

Montserrat is classed as a ‘British Overseas Territory’, originally occupied by Irish settlers in 1632. It has its own government but the official head of state is The Queen and it retains strong links to the UK.

Case Study – Montserrat

Using the information from the paper point and hand outs, plus

information from Geog 1 book fill in each section with detail and

explanation.

Describe the location of the island of Montserrat –

Explain, with detail, what has caused the I sland of Montserrat to be a volcanic island – include names

and examples, you may even wish to draw a diagram to help expand your answer.

What are some of the positive and negative impacts of living near a Volcano and why might people

decide to move away whilst others decide to stay?

Positives Negatives Stay Go

Now we’ll continue by investigating the

cause.

You’ll need to use your knowledge of plate Boundaries.

Page 117 will help.

Name the type of plate boundary closest to Montserrat?

Destructive or subduction (Caribbean Plate and North American Plate are pushing

towards each other).

What was the cause of the Montserrat Volcano?

Why is there a large amount of Volcanic activity in this area?

What was the cause of the Montserrat Volcano?

2. The denser ocean plate/crust is forced down underthe less dense continental plate/crust.

3. Friction from the movement creates heat and as the ocean crust moves down, it melts forming molten magma.

4. The hot magma triesto rise to the surface through weaknesses in the continental plate.When it does, it createsa volcano such as Soufriere Hills in Montserrat.

South American plate

Caribbean plate

1. This a destructive (Subduction) Plate boundary. The South American plate is forced below the Caribbean plate. The plate are being dragged along by the convection currents in the mantle.

Destructive Plate Boundary

From geog1

Causes:Montserrat lies on a plate boundary where the North and South American plates are sliding beneath the Caribbean Plate.

This is a destructive plate boundary or subduction zone.As the North and South American plates get dragged down into the mantle, the very high temperatures cause the crust to melt, forming a vast underground magma chamber.

This magma rises to the surface to form a chain of volcanic islands, Montserrat being one of these.

The main volcano on the island is Mount Soufriere, a composite volcano (alternating layers of ash and lava = violent eruptions). Until 1995, the volcano had lain dormant for around 100 years.

Causes:Montserrat lies on a destructive plate boundary where the North and South American plates are sliding beneath the Caribbean Plate

(= subduction zone).The very high temperatures in the mantle cause the crust to melt, forming a vast chamber of magma which rises to the surface to form a chain of volcanic islands, the island of Montserrat being one of these.

Explain the causes of the tectonic activity on Montserrat (4)

Caribbean Plate and North American plate are pushing towards each other.

One plate falls below the other and melts into a subduction zone (destructive plate boundary)

Pressure builds up and is released suddenlyMagma and volcanic ash explodes out of the

volcano violentlyMagma on a destructive plate boundary is

sticky due to a high silica contentTherefore much damage is caused to the

surrounding area

Case Study – Montserrat

Using the information from the paper point and hand outs, plus

information from Geog 1 book fill in each section with detail and

explanation.

Describe the location of the island of Montserrat –

Explain, with detail, what has caused the I sland of Montserrat to be a volcanic island – include names

and examples, you may even wish to draw a diagram to help expand your answer.

What are some of the positive and negative impacts of living near a Volcano and why might people

decide to move away whilst others decide to stay?

Positives Negatives Stay Go

Now record what you have found out.

You’ll need to use your knowledge of plate Boundaries.

Page 117 will help.

You can use a labeled diagram.

What happened leading up to the eruption of the Volcano Soufriere

hill?

What events and signs were there, that the people of Montserrat were in danger and the

Volcano was soon going to erupt?

Timeline of events:1992-1994 Swarms of microquakes are detected under Mount Soufriere.

Jul 1995

Eruptions of ash and steam. People are encouraged to evacuate the south of the island as a precaution.

Dec1995

A bulging lava dome appears in the crater at the top of the mountain. The capital, Plymouth is evacuated.

Jan1996

The volcano enters a quiet phase and residents are allowed to return to their homes

Mar-Sep1996

A return to volcanic activity, including the first of many pyroclastic flows. All people ordered out of the south of the island.

Jun1997

A devastating eruption occurs, killing 19 people who had returned to their homes in the danger zone. Plymouth is completely destroyed.

July 1997

The compulsory exclusion zone is expanded and camps are set up in the north of the island. The government grants powers to forcibly remove people. 5,000 now settled in temporary camps.

Sep-Dec1997

Eruptions of volcanic gases (mainly sulphur dioxide), ash and pyroclastic flows continue on a regular basis.

1998onwards

Ongoing monitoring of the volcano from the monitoring station. Eruptions of ash and gases continue, plus lahars following heavy rains.

The Cause The effects The response                    

   

Notes from Video

Watch and use following video to investigate the causes, effects and responses to the eruption. Add detail to your table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBQk2dzo9yM

The Cause The effects The response                    

   

Notes from Website

Using the following website to investigate the causes, effects and responses to the eruption. Add detail to your table.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/envhaz/flash/volcanoes/volcano_intro.swf

Use the Website to add detail to your bookelet about the causes of,

effects of and responses to the volcano.

The Cause The effects The response                    

   

Notes from Website

Using the following website to investigate the causes, effects and responses to the eruption. Add detail to your table.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/envhaz/flash/volcanoes/volcano_intro.swf

The causes, effects and solutions

On your sheet there are a total of 28 cards showing the causes, effects and solutions to the Montserrat eruption. There are also 7 blank for you to fill in.

1. Categorise the cards into cause, effects and solutions. This can be done by colour coding.

2. Once you have sorted all the effects, now decide by adding a letter S, E or E which of them are social, economic and environmental.

3. Prioritise which effect created the biggest problem for the island and explain your choice. (Level 5)

Ext: Take out the solutions and decide which of these is the most helpful to the island and explain why.

Towns are slowing being rebuilt now.

Montserrat lies on a destructive plate boundary

Rivers flooded because they were blocked by ash.

The port and airport were closed, badly affecting the tourist industry.

Other industries suffered with port and airport closures.

Pressure increases, which triggers an earthquake.

Heat produced by friction melts the descending crust to form molten magma.

Nineteen people died and two-thirds of this island was covered in ash.

Being overseas British territory £41 million pounds in aid was donated by the British.

The country was forced to rely on aid from the UK.

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory was set up to monitor the volcano.

The tourist industry is slowly picking up again as a result of having an active volcano.

The hot magma tries to rise to the surface, and when it succeeds it will form a volcano.

Between 1995 and 1997 this volcano erupted huge quantities of lava, ash and pyroclastic flows.

Access to the one hospital on the island was disrupted, having knock effects to health care

Half of the population were evacuated to the north of the island.

Half of the population left the island.

Money was given to individuals to move away from the effected area.

Fires were caused in forests by volcanic gases igniting.

Many homes had been destroyed from the falling ash and lava flows from the volcano.

Rivers flooded because they were blocked by ash.

The port and airport were closed, badly affecting the tourist industry.

Plymouth, the capital became an abandoned ‘ghost town’.

Crops and animals were destroyed by layers of volcanic ash, meaning there was a loss of money as the farmers could not sell .

The oceanic plate is forced down (subduction) under the continental plate.

A risk assessment was undertaken to help the locals to prepare for future eruptions.

Some who fled are starting to trickle back to the island.

Lava flow destroyed the surrounding plants and animal’s habitats as it snaked down the side of the volcano

Ash from the volcano settled in the nearby oceans and destroyed marine habitats.

New roads and other infrastructure like electricity and water supply, as well as farmland regeneration were set as a priorities,

CAUSE, EFFECT, RESPONSE?

Describe the impact of the eruption on the land and occupations of the people of Montserrat (6)

Much land destroyed by volcanic ash and lavaFarmland, forests, houses, places of work

(including industries, port and airport) destroyedPeople could not farm land for moneyJobs available in building and construction to

house the homeless people and to build roads and services

Hospital destroyed, so no medical care on island until it was rebuilt

Economy in ruins after all industries destroyed, meaning little money for people to rebuild and spend on local services

Aid was needed

Effects of volcanoes

NEGATIVE POSITIVE

Positive v negative

B. Tourism

I. JobsH. Fertile land

E. Money for the economy

J. Better communication systems

A. Beautiful landscape C. Transport systems blocked

F. Crops ruinedG. Buildings destroyed

D. People and animals lose their lives

K. Forest fires

L. Geothermal energy

What are the arguments for and against people staying on Montserrat? (4)

ForStay with family and friendsElderly people unable to leave islandStrong community spirit as working together to

re-buildOver time land will become fertile againAgainstVolcano could erupt againLand will not be fertile enough to farm again

for a long timePeople living in make shift shelters – no jobs,

no homes, no medical care

Case study cube pictures

Montserrat today:2011 census recorded a population of 5,100 – less than half what it was before the eruption but 3x what it had fallen to by 2001.

Aim is to restore the population eventually to 10,000.

Some emigrants have returned to slowly rebuild their lives and the island economy.

Tourism has recovered well (‘volcano tourism’). Income from tourism more than £12m last year.

Severe skills shortage (‘brain drain’) and fears of over-reliance on handouts from UK.

Ongoing monitoring of the potential for more eruptions.