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THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES SEISMIC RESEARCH UNIT |
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The Unit |
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Site Map | ||||
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The Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies is the agency responsible for monitoring earthquakes and volcanoes for the English-speaking islands of the Eastern Caribbean as well as the Dutch islands of Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Martin. This site contains useful information for scientists, disaster coordinators, teachers, students and other persons with a general interest in geologic events in the Eastern Caribbean. To visit the website of the University of the West Indies click on the University's crest above. |
Soufriere Hills Volcano, MontserratPhoto courtesy MVO |
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Scientific News
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| Earthquake felt in Saint Lucia
22nd April, 2008 On Wednesday morning 22nd April at 10:06am local time, an earthquake occurred on land Saint Lucia. The preliminary location for the event is 13.97°N 60.88°W. The event was reported as felt in Vigie, Gros Islet, Castries and Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia. There have been no reports of damage or injuries. The focal depth was approximately 14 km. The preliminary magnitude is 3.2. Please note that these results are preliminary and may vary slightly when additional data is processed. A map of the event can be found here. If you felt this event please contact us at: uwiseismic@uwiseismic.com. Let us know where you were and what you felt. Posted: 22/04/08 11:14am |
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Earthquake Links
Historical Eastern Caribbean earthquakes
The Triangle of Life (PDF file)
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Seismicity Maps
Earthquake activity maps
Seismicity map showing earthquake activity in the eastern Caribbean from January-August 2007 is available here.
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Volcanoes |
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Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat
The Soufriere Hills Volcano on Montserrat has been erupting since 1995. For updates on activity at this volcano kindly visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory's website at www.mvo.ms.
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Kick 'em Jenny submarine volcano
Located 9km north of Grenada, Kick 'em Jenny is the only 'live' submarine volcano in the Eastern Caribbean of which we know. It is also a modern day demonstration of how these islands were formed. Click here for the Kick 'em Jenny pages.
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Tsunamis |
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Tsunami Headlines
Global tsunami
Click here for tsunami stories from across the globe.
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Site Highlights
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Senior IPGP management team to visit Montserrat
22nd April, 2008
Professor Vincent Courtillot, Director of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), will be visiting the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) on a one-day trip to Montserrat. The main purpose of his visit is to familiarize himself with the MVO and the island’s governing bodies. Read more...
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"Earthquakes: Science & Safety"
Download a pdf version (3MB) of the Earthquakes: Science & Safety presentation.
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The Triangle of Life - An Eastern Caribbean perspective
The 'Triangle of Life' is a widely circulated suggestion which states that during an earthquake it is safer to curl up next to a desk or bed rather than to go under it. Scientists at the Seismic Research Unit do not recommend this practice for the following reasons:
• The Triangle of Life is not a scientifically proven theory.
• It is unknown if during the earthquake these “triangles of life” - spaces next to desks, beds etc.- are impacted in any way which may make them unsafe areas.
• In the Eastern Caribbean, ‘pancaking’ or crumbling of buildings which would crush occupants as described in the ‘Triangle of Life’, is not expected.
A full article on this topic can be found here.
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Volcanic Hazard Atlas of the Lesser Antilles
The Volcanic Hazard Atlas of the Lesser Antilles is a comprehensive reference work summarising the current state of knowledge of each live volcano in the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles. The individual island-specific entries include sections that summarise all previous work, the geological history of the island and the volcano monitoring network. Each potentially active volcano on the island is then discussed in turn, with emphasis on past eruptive activity, geothermal activity and seismicity. Poster-sized versions (17x22 in) of all the integrated volcanic hazard maps are included in the accompanying map pocket.
Copies of the Atlas can be bought from the following sources:
WORLDWIDE: Order from amazon.com.
DIRECT: from the Seismic Research Unit by downloading and completing an order form (select pdf or word file).
BARBADOS: U.W.I. Bookshop, Cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies.
JAMAICA: U.W.I. Bookshop, Mona Campus, University of the West Indies.
MONTSERRAT: The Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Flemings, Montserrat (www.mvo.ms.)
DOMINICA: JAYS Bookshop, Roseau Dominica
ST. VINCENT: Reliance Stationery , Halifax Street, Kingstown and Gaymes Book Center, Grenville Street, Kingstown
TRINIDAD: U.W.I. Bookshop, St. Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies.
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