Montserrat Volcano Observatory in 20112007 view of the Soufrière Hills volcano2009 satellite view of the island of Montserrat from the northeast looking southwest, showing an ash and steam plume from the Soufrière Hills volcano
The MVO staff describe their activities as working to reduce the impact of volcanic activity by monitoring, researching, educating, and advising.[1]
The MVO building is situated in the village of Flemmings, near Salem in the parish of St. Peter, in the west of the island.
An operational base was established by the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Unit (SRU) immediately following the first phreatic explosions on 18 July 1995.[2] Various scientists and scientific organizations contributed in the following years, organized at various times by the SRU and British Geological Survey (BGS). The Observatory was officially established as an organization by the Montserrat Government in 1999.[2][3] It is currently managed by the Seismic Research Centre, University of West Indies.[4][5]
Leadership of the Montserrat volcano observatoryedit
The Observatory has been led by a Chief Scientist, or a Director, for most of the time since it was established in 1995. In the earlier stages of operation staff in these roles rotated; later the term was extended. Directors since 2000 have included[6]
The volcanologists monitoring and researching the volcanic activities on Montserrat came under immense political pressure to provide suitable advice after the first outbreak.[8] The eruptions have been deemed a classical example of the black swan problem[9] as a high-profile, hard-to-predict, and rare event which provided major challenges for the prediction of further developments. Until 1995, the volcano had been silent for centuries.
After some difficulties, the involved scientists began to use statistical models to estimate the probabilities of particular events, a rather subjective method, but suitable to build up experience-based expertise (including local knowledge and experience) step by step.[8] A 2012 study about knowledge generation and expert advice on active volcanoes used the Montserrat eruption as a showcase, but included as well interviews with scientists in the United Kingdom, Montserrat, Italy and Iceland during fieldwork seasons.[8] It listed the Montserrat case among other recent and historical eruptions that had an influence on volcanology as a science.[8]
Online sitesedit
Weekly reports of volcanic activity are posted on the official website; MVO also maintains Facebook and Twitter pages. The MVO has another website with profiles about MVO's staff and general work, but this website is no longer being updated.[10]
^Pattullo, Polly (1 July 2000). "Volcano chief quits stricken island" – via The Guardian.
^ abcdAmy Donovan, Clive Oppenheimer, Michael Bravo. Social studies of volcanology: knowledge generation and expert advice on active volcanoes. Bulletin of Volcanology, Springer Verlag (Germany), 2012, 74 (3), pp.677-689. doi:10.1007/s00445-011-0547-z insu-00691620
^Donovan et al. (2012) cite Taleb NN (2007) The black swan: the impact of the highly improbable. Allen Lane, London
^Stewart, Roderick (27 April 2020). "IMPORTANT NOTICE". mvoms.org.
External linksedit
Official website
official Facebook account
official Twitter account
Official Montserrat Government page about MVO (archived)
A more technical account of the volcano's activity
montserrat, volcano, observatory, volcano, observatory, which, located, caribbean, island, montserrat, where, soufrière, hills, volcano, been, actively, erupting, since, 1995, 20112007, view, soufrière, hills, volcano2009, satellite, view, island, montserrat, . The Montserrat Volcano Observatory MVO is a volcano observatory which is located on the Caribbean island of Montserrat where the Soufriere Hills volcano SHV has been actively erupting since 1995 Montserrat Volcano Observatory in 20112007 view of the Soufriere Hills volcano2009 satellite view of the island of Montserrat from the northeast looking southwest showing an ash and steam plume from the Soufriere Hills volcanoThe MVO staff describe their activities as working to reduce the impact of volcanic activity by monitoring researching educating and advising 1 The MVO building is situated in the village of Flemmings near Salem in the parish of St Peter in the west of the island Contents 1 History 2 Leadership of the Montserrat volcano observatory 3 Reaction to the 1995 outbreaks 4 Online sites 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editAn operational base was established by the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Unit SRU immediately following the first phreatic explosions on 18 July 1995 2 Various scientists and scientific organizations contributed in the following years organized at various times by the SRU and British Geological Survey BGS The Observatory was officially established as an organization by the Montserrat Government in 1999 2 3 It is currently managed by the Seismic Research Centre University of West Indies 4 5 Leadership of the Montserrat volcano observatory editThe Observatory has been led by a Chief Scientist or a Director for most of the time since it was established in 1995 In the earlier stages of operation staff in these roles rotated later the term was extended Directors since 2000 have included 6 Dr Simon Young 7 Dr Peter Dunkley Dr Gill Norton Dr Sue Loughlin 2004 2006 Dr Vicky Hards 2006 2008 Dr Rod Stewart 2008 Acting Dr J C Komorowski 2008 Acting Dr Nico Fournier 2009 Acting Dr Richard Robertson 2009 Acting Dr Paul Cole 2009 2013 Dr Rod Stewart 2013 2019 Dr Graham Ryan 2019 Reaction to the 1995 outbreaks editThe volcanologists monitoring and researching the volcanic activities on Montserrat came under immense political pressure to provide suitable advice after the first outbreak 8 The eruptions have been deemed a classical example of the black swan problem 9 as a high profile hard to predict and rare event which provided major challenges for the prediction of further developments Until 1995 the volcano had been silent for centuries After some difficulties the involved scientists began to use statistical models to estimate the probabilities of particular events a rather subjective method but suitable to build up experience based expertise including local knowledge and experience step by step 8 A 2012 study about knowledge generation and expert advice on active volcanoes used the Montserrat eruption as a showcase but included as well interviews with scientists in the United Kingdom Montserrat Italy and Iceland during fieldwork seasons 8 It listed the Montserrat case among other recent and historical eruptions that had an influence on volcanology as a science 8 Online sites editWeekly reports of volcanic activity are posted on the official website MVO also maintains Facebook and Twitter pages The MVO has another website with profiles about MVO s staff and general work but this website is no longer being updated 10 See also editList of volcanoes in Montserrat National Geographic Seconds From Disaster episode aired March 7 2007 List of settlements abandoned after the 1997 Soufriere Hills eruption MVO TremorsReferences edit MVO What we do 22 June 2012 Archived from the original on 22 June 2012 Retrieved 5 November 2020 a b History of MVO 15 June 2009 Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 23 November 2019 About MVO Montserrat Volcano Observatory Retrieved 23 November 2019 Montserrat Volcano Observatory About Facebook Retrieved 23 November 2019 Renewal of MVO Management Contract 13 September 2016 Retrieved 23 November 2019 The new monitoring contract runs for five years Index of pub SAC Reports www mvo ms Pattullo Polly 1 July 2000 Volcano chief quits stricken island via The Guardian a b c d Amy Donovan Clive Oppenheimer Michael Bravo Social studies of volcanology knowledge generation and expert advice on active volcanoes Bulletin of Volcanology Springer Verlag Germany 2012 74 3 pp 677 689 doi 10 1007 s00445 011 0547 z insu 00691620 Donovan et al 2012 cite Taleb NN 2007 The black swan the impact of the highly improbable Allen Lane London Stewart Roderick 27 April 2020 IMPORTANT NOTICE mvoms org External links editOfficial website official Facebook account official Twitter account Official Montserrat Government page about MVO archived A more technical account of the volcano s activity A view of the 2003 MVO building 16 44 55 N 62 12 46 W 16 748686 N 62 212784 W 16 748686 62 212784 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Montserrat Volcano Observatory amp oldid 1217572006, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
