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Inside the Active Volcano On Montserrat

Posted by kdawson on from the magma-sponge dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "An international team of researchers has begun collecting imaging data on the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat, which has been erupting regularly since 1995. They're using the equivalent of a CAT scan to understand its internal structure and how and when it erupts. The experiment is dubbed SEA-CALIPSO and 'will use air guns and a string of sensors off the back of a research ship combined with sensors on land to try to image the magma chamber.' Early results are surprising. Quoting one of the leading scientists: 'The interesting thing is that much more magma is erupting than appears represented by the subsiding bowl. ... The magma volume in Montserrat eruptions is much larger than anyone would estimate from the surface deformation, because of the elastic storage of magma in what is effectively a huge magma sponge.'"

6 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. Montserrat Volcano Observatory by foobarb · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.mvo.ms/ Pictures and info about the volcano, official site.

  2. Live comments from an on-site reporter by this+great+guy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Reporter: The magma volume in Montserrat eruptions is much larger than anyone would estimate and... oh! look at that burst of lava ! I have never seen anyth- OMG I FEEL THE EARTH RUMBLIN-
    Studio anchor: ... Charles ? Do you hear me ? *turning to his co-anchor* Is he still with us ?

  3. Is it just me or.... by zappepcs · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does anyone else wish we could call the Enterprise back Earthside to do geologic surveys of this planet?

    Space travel is a good goal, but if you consider all the things that Star Trek presented as part of space travel, I'd be impressed if we started inventing them now to study THIS planet. Perhaps if we understood volcanoes better, we'd understand more about climate control for the planet and THAT would be a worthy goal. It's always good to hear there is money still for such research. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

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  4. Been there.. by MoellerPlesset2 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's a beautiful place, beautiful volcano too. Odd fact of the kind they tell tourists: It once erupted and killed everyone except a guy who was in jail in an underground cell.

    1. Re:Been there.. by Nil000 · · Score: 5, Informative

      This particular incident was the 1902 eruption of St. Pelee on Martinique which killed 30,000 people in Saint-Pierre. What killed everyone in this case was not CO2 but a Nuee Ardente or pyroclastic flow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Pierre,_Martinique There was a survivor who was in the town jail. There used to be some items from the town in the Natural History museum in London, including half molten glasses and bottles.

  5. No, that was Martinique by dtmos · · Score: 5, Informative

    Either you or the tour guide were very much mistaken. The famous story about the guy in the underground jail cell refers to the May 8, 1902 eruption of Mt. Pelée on Martinique, a different volcano on a different island.