Press Releases

Towards a Caribbean tsunami warning system

Scientists to deploy new real-time monitoring station at Kick ‘em Jenny (07/05/07)

Earthquake activity near the north coast of Trinidad (31/10/05)

Launch of the Volcanic Hazard Atlas of the Lesser Antilles (19/05/05)

Tsunamis early warning system for the Caribbean (07/01/05)

Tsunamis and the Caribbean (29/12/04)

Earthquake north of Dominica (4/12/04)

Earthquake near the east coast of Trinidad (3/12/04)

UWI Teams up with GSTT to celebrate Earth Science Week (09/10/03)

Red Cross and Geologists team up for Community Lectures (04/09/03)

Scientists find volcanic craters off Grenada (25/03/03)

Kick 'em Jenny research cruise starts today (12/03/03)

Scientific Team to Conduct Research Cruise on Kick 'em Jenny Submarine Volcano (11/03/03)

Educator to join scientists on research cruise on Kick 'em Jenny submarine volcano (28/02/03)

URI Graduate School of Oceanography Scientists to Study Caribbean Submarine Volcano“Kick ‘Em Jenny" (28/02/03)

Towards a Caribbean tsunami warning system

St. Augustine, Trinidad W.I. - July 4, 2007 - Over forty participants from more than twenty countries in the Caribbean and Latin American region convened on the St. Augustine campus of The University of the West Indies for a six-day Caribbean Training Course in Seismology and Tsunami Warnings from June 25-30th. Hosted by the UWI’s Seismic Research Unit, the Course was part of an ongoing regional effort to establish a tsunami warning system for the Caribbean and Adjacent areas. It provided participants with an understanding of the science behind tsunami warnings and exposed them to operational best-practices of warning centres.

The Caribbean continues to be vulnerable to natural disasters such as tsunamis and major earthquakes and “As the regional centre of research, the UWI (therefore) has an obligation to improve regional capacity.” This, according to the UWI, St. Augustine Campus Principal, Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie. Dr. Tewarie’s statement was part of the welcome remarks delivered by the Prinicpal during the Opening Ceremony for the Course.

“There is no doubt that this region must adopt pro-active programmes to minimize the damage that tsunamis and other coastal hazards can cause. The first steps that must be undertaken are those that this workshop is adopting, viz., improved co-operation and the implementation of regional and international initiatives to increase their ability to respond to such events,” said Tewarie.

Coming from varying backgrounds of emergency planning, meteorology, and seismology, Course participants engaged in wide ranging discussions on tsunamis as well as other hazards and discussed how best to develop a tsunami early warning system that enhanced mitigation against such hazards. At the close of the Course, participants provided recommendations which included the need for a commitment by “…National Governments to ensure that Tsunami Preparedness becomes a more significant part of their multi-hazard early warning and mitigation system as well as encourage the establishment of National Early Warning System Committees inclusive of their Tsunami Warning Focal Point and Tsunami National Contact…” as guided by the International Oceanographic Commission.

Participants also recognized “…that the region already has early warning systems for more slow-onset events, and that these systems could be expanded to incorporate the fast-developing tsunamis and other coastal hazards.” They also called for the organization and implementation of “…public education, preparedness and sensitization activities for vulnerable communities,” and for support of “…the development of scientifically-sound products and tools to carry out these activities.”

Participants and Instructors from the Caribbean Training Course on Seismology & Tsunami Warnings.

Running concurrently with the Seismology & Tsunami Warnings Training Course was a training programme for seismic technicians in the use of EARTHWORM, a seismic data processing package used in managing real-time seismic data streams.

The Seismology & Tsunami Warnings Training Course was developed in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN), and the UNESCO IOC International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC). This was one of several activities being coordinated by the Seismic Research Unit towards the establishment of a Caribbean tsunami warning system, a major component of which is a significant upgrade of the SRU’s seismic monitoring network made possible through a US$249,680 grant from the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA).

Funding for the Course was provided primarily by the USAID/OFDA with additional financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UWI Centre for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction.

Scientists to deploy new real-time monitoring station at Kick ‘em Jenny

St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago W.I. - May 7th, 2007 - A team of scientists will spend the next few days installing a new underwater earthquake monitoring system on the Kick ‘em Jenny submarine volcano off the north coast of Grenada. The installation is part of a project to develop new technology for earthquake monitoring of coastal areas and, if successful, should significantly improve how the volcano is monitored.

The project uses an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) to collect high quality data from Kick ‘em Jenny and a special mooring system to send the seismic data to the volcano observatory in Sauteurs. The data that is collected from the volcano will reach the shore within seconds of being generated, which will allow researchers to monitor coastal geologic hazards in real-time, a basic requirement for reducing hazards posed by earthquakes and tsunamis. This is the first time that such a system is being tested and used anywhere in the world, and it is hoped that it will provide invaluable data regarding earthquake activity on the Kick 'em Jenny volcano.

The scientific team will be hosted by Grenada’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and includes researchers from the US-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies. During their visit to Grenada, the scientists plan to meet with dive operators, fishermen and residents of Sauteurs to discuss the project. A press conference is schedule for Tuesday, May 8th at NADMA’s headquarters in St. George’s at a time to be advised.

Kick 'em Jenny provides scientists with a unique natural laboratory to study the activity at a shallow submarine volcano that will one day emerge to form a new volcanic island. It is the only 'live' submarine volcano in the West Indies known to scientists and it has erupted at least 12 times since 1939, with the last major eruption occurring in 2001.

Major funding for this project came from the National Science Foundation. Additional funds were provided by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the US Geological Survey.

Earthquake activity near the north coast of Trinidad

St. Augustine, Trinidad W.I. - October 31st, 2005 - There have been two felt earthquakes near Trinidad last week – one on Monday 24th October and the other on Friday 28th. At the best of times, i.e. when we forget about them because we have not felt one for a very long time, feeling an earthquake is an unsettling experience especially when it is strong enough to cause small, unstable items to fall over and cause cracks in our walls. The sense of unease is heightened when the felt event comes close on the heels of a big earthquake somewhere in the World that has caused severe damage and death. The many intense natural events we have experienced globally since the Sumatran 2004 Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami have had the effect of making us somewhat hypersensitive. Read more...

Launch of the Volcanic Hazard Atlas of the Lesser Antilles

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. - January 7th, 2005 –The devastation caused by the tsunami which ravaged several Asian countries on 26th December, 2004 has sparked discussion on the importance of a tsunami early warning system in the Caribbean. While in theory such a system may seem invaluable in light of the Asian disaster, scientists at the Seismic Research Unit currently believe that several factors should be seriously considered before assuming that a tsunami early warning system would be beneficial to the region. Ag. Head of the Seismic Research Unit, Dr Richard Robertson, says that “Before the region spends valuable resources on setting up new instruments for a tsunami early warning system, we need to strengthen our existing networks and focus on improving public education and communication activities with regard to geologic hazards in the region.”

Tsunamis in the Caribbean are a hazard but a minor one when compared with other natural hazards that affect the region or to tsunamis in the Pacific. Potentially devastating tsunamis are rare events with a recurrence rate of the order of once or twice per century. There has been no event in the recorded history of the Caribbean in which tsunami-related deaths and destruction of property have amounted to more than a very small fraction of the total deaths and destruction of property that was caused by the generating earthquake.

There are two components that are essential for any tsunami warning system. The first is a network of instruments that allows scientists a) to rapidly determine when and where potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes occur and b) to determine whether a tsunami has actually been generated and if so how big it is. To enable this to happen we would need an efficient seismograph network and an efficient tide gauge network, both with real time response capability. The second component of the system is an efficient public information and education system that allows agencies to issue tsunami warnings and ensures that the public knows how to respond to these warnings. This second component is particularly important since it makes little sense to issue a warning unless people know how to respond.

In terms of the Caribbean and most regions of the world, the first component of this system is more or less in place. This is because within the past ten years seismograph networks and communication systems have improved such that it is now possible to detect and locate earthquakes down to about magnitude 5.5 within a few minutes anywhere in the world. This is particularly true for the Eastern Caribbean which has one of the densest seismograph networks in the world. It is possible, during regular working hours and with the existing network to recognize potential tsunamigenic earthquakes (magnitude 6.5 and above) within a few minutes. The process could also be automated such that if such earthquakes occur an alarm is sent to the duty scientists outside normal working hours. This will increase the response time to at least 30 minutes.

Given the existing seismological networks that operate in the Caribbean and the experience scientists have gleaned in operating them, setting up an organization specifically dedicated to tsunami warning in the Caribbean is not currently expedient. Because of the long average period between events it is highly likely that any such organisation would fade away long before the first event occurred. If the Seismic Research Unit were to issue a tsunami warning every time there was a shallow earthquake of magnitude greater than 6.5 we would have issued two warnings in our 52-year existence (east of Dominica 1969 and Antigua 1974). Both of these would have been false alarms since both earthquakes generated tsunamis with amplitudes less than 1 cm. In terms of long-term sustainability of such an organisation one should also consider that despite the fact that the historical death toll from volcanic activity is very high and the average period between significant events is only about 15 years, public interest and government support decline very rapidly after each event ends.

More serious than the potential for false alarms is the issue of tsunami travel times. If a tsunami is generated by a ‘local/internal’ source (e.g. an earthquake located between Trinidad and Puerto Rico) it will reach the nearest islands within minutes and the whole region within less than an hour. In order to have any real benefit from an early warning system we would need to respond within about 15 minutes and contact relevant disaster management officials within another 15 minutes. This is not impossible but it would require that the Seismic Research Unit and all of the disaster offices in the region be manned or readily accessible 24 hours per day. Even then issuing a warning to vulnerable communities in the nearest islands would be nearly impossible.

For externally-generated tsunamis (‘tele-tsunamis’) there is another problem. The most likely source for the Caribbean is the Azores fracture zone in the Atlantic Ocean. A tsunami generated in this region would reach the Caribbean within 4-6 hours so there would be ample time for a warning. However, this is an Atlantic-wide problem which would best be handled by a European-based centre. Again, no new instruments are needed. What is needed is a continuously-manned centre collecting information from existing networks.

In conclusion we believe that concentrating on the first component in any tsunami warning system would result in spending substantial dollars without any real effect. Alternatively, a positive effect could be guaranteed more economically by focusing on the second component of the system. Educating vulnerable communities in the Caribbean so that people can recognize and respond to the early symptoms of a tsunami could save countless lives. This is the component we believe that should be stressed and pursued vigorously.

Tsunamis and the Caribbean

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. --December 29th, 2004 – A tsunami is an ocean wave or series of waves caused by a large-scale disturbance of the ocean floor or surface that abruptly displaces a large mass of water. Tsunamis may be caused by earthquakes, volcanic events, landslides into the sea or impact of stellar objects such as asteroids, comets and meteorites. This article focuses primarily on tsunamis generated by earthquakes and volcanic events. While it is possible for the region to be hit by a tsunami such as the one recently experienced in Asia, scientists currently believe that there is a very low probability of this phenomenon occurring in the Caribbean.

In the past 500 years there have been at least ten earthquake-generated tsunamis in the entire Caribbean which have been reported and verified. Four of these have led to deaths. In total about 350 people in the Caribbean have been killed by these events. These tsunamis occurred as a result of earthquakes in:

· May 1842, Haiti - An intense local tsunami was believed to have killed up to 200 people in the town of Port-de-Paix. This figure is highly uncertain since total casualties caused by the earthquake were more than 7,000.

· November 1867, Virgin Islands – Death toll about 20, all in the Virgin Islands

· October 1918, Puerto Rico – Death toll about 29 in Puerto Rico

· August 1946, Dominican Republic – An intense local tsunami which mainly affected the town of Matanzas where up to 100 people were killed

Additional earthquake-generated tsunamis of note also occurred in 1843 affecting Guadeloupe and Antigua and in 1690 in St. Kitts Nevis. The number of casualties related to these tsunamis, if any, is uncertain. In July 2003, a major dome collapse from the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat caused a tsunami that was experienced in Guadeloupe at about 1m high and in some parts of Montserrat at 4m in amplitude.

Potentially, there are two groups of earthquakes which may generate tsunamis in the Caribbean. These are (1) Earthquakes occurring within the region which may generate local tsunamis (by local we mean that only nearby islands are affected). In the past 500 years there have been approximately 50 potentially tsunamigenic local earthquakes but only 10-20% of these earthquakes actually generated tsunamis that caused significant inundation. (2) Distant earthquakes occurring outside of the region may generate tele-tsunamis.

In November 1755, a major earthquake in the Azores fracture zone near Portugal resulted in a tele-tsunami which crossed the Atlantic and was noticed throughout the eastern Caribbean from Barbados to Antigua and as far west as Cuba. This earthquake is commonly referred to as the Great Lisbon Earthquake. The amplitude of the tsunami in all islands was about 2-3 metres and waves continued to arrive for many hours. No damage or casualties were reported. European sources also reported that the Azores fracture zone generated a second tele-tsunami in March 1761 but no local confirmed observations were made in the Caribbean.

While recent events in Asia have caused much concern over the Caribbean’s vulnerability to tsunamis, it is important to note that all oceans can experience tsunamis but there are more large, destructive tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean because of the many major earthquakes along the margins of the Pacific Ocean and also because dip-slip earthquakes (which involve vertical rather than lateral ground motion) are more common in the Pacific than elsewhere. As a result of the immediacy of the tsunami hazard to countries in the Pacific, there is currently a tsunami early warning system in that region.

There is no tsunami warning system in the Caribbean where the recurrence rate is approximately: 1 destructive tsunami per century for local earthquakes and 1 destructive tsunami per 200 years for distant earthquakes. It should be noted that these recurrence rates are small but not negligible. For comparison, earthquake engineers design buildings to withstand earthquakes with a recurrence period of once in 475 years.

The first sign of an approaching tsunami is usually a significant retreat of the sea. As a result, the trailing waves pile on top of the waves in front of them, thereby significantly increasing the height of the wave before hitting the shore. Although a tsunami advances much slower as it approaches land, its momentum is powerful enough to cause severe destruction. If you are close to the sea and the water retreats by an abnormal amount, move to high ground at once.

While it is possible that the region could be affected by earthquake-generated tsunamis, scientists currently believe that the more immediate threats posed by earthquake hazards such as collapsing buildings, falling electricity lines, ruptured gas lines, rock slides and/or landslides on mountains and hillsides (as recently witnessed in Dominica, Trinidad, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands) are more of a present danger to the region. Greater focus should, therefore, be placed on ensuring that effective public education programmes are undertaken to sensitize the public to these hazards and serious consideration should be given to constructing sound earthquake-resistant buildings.

For updates on these and other geologic events occurring in the region please visit the Seismic Research Unit’s website at www.uwiseismic.com. Based at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine Trinidad, the Seismic Research Unit is the agency responsible for monitoring earthquakes and volcanoes throughout the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean.

Earthquake north of Dominica

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. --December 4th, 2004, 12:12PM -- On Sunday morning November 21st, at 7:41AM local time, a strong earthquake occurred just off the north coast of Dominica. This event was of magnitude 6.3 and was widely reported as felt in Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat and St. Vincent. This earthquake was tectonic and was NOT related to volcanic activity on any of the affected islands. This is the first earthquake of this magnitude to occur so close to Dominica in instrumental times (since 1952). The next biggest earthquake near Dominica was on September 24th, 1996 and was of magnitude 5.1.

An event of this magnitude is normally followed by numerous aftershocks, some occurring within mere seconds. Scientists believe that these aftershocks will continue for many months. As of December 2nd at 8:49AM, there have been over 3000 aftershocks (of magnitude >2.0). Initially, the production rate was as high as three events per minute. By the third day, however, the rate had slowed with highs of above 20 per hour. Fortunately, not all of these aftershocks have been felt. At the time of preparing this press release, the last felt aftershock had occurred at 9:40PM on December 3rd and was of magnitude 3.7.

The event on 21/11/04 caused one death in Guadeloupe and structural damage to some buildings in Dominica. Shortly following the earthquake, a team of scientists from the Seismic Research Unit was deployed to Dominica to assess the damage and to undertake routine volcano monitoring activities. Volcano monitoring activities will include reoccupation of GPS sites and sampling of the temperature at the more accessible fumaroles. These activities are routine and do not indicate any change in the level of volcanic activity.

Site visits have revealed that Portsmouth and Vielle Case were the two main affected areas on the island following the 21/11/04 earthquake. The most impressive damage was on two churches in Portsmouth and one in Vielle Case. Scientists have also been working closely with the local disaster coordinator to conduct public awareness activities on the island.

Structural damage to a house in Portsmouth, Dominica. Click on image for larger view.

Structural damage to a church in Vielle Case, Dominica. Click on image for larger view.

It is important to note that the cause of these earthquakes is completely unrelated to Dominica’s volcanoes, rather the earthquakes are tectonic and have occurred because of the movement of the Earth’s plates. The Earth is divided into plates (slabs of rock), which are constantly moving. The region where these plates meet is called a plate boundary. The Eastern Caribbean is an example of an island arc system formed at a convergent plate boundary (more specifically, at a subduction zone, where two tectonic plates meet and the denser plate is forced beneath the lighter plate). This is the main cause of the volcanic and seismic activity in the Eastern Caribbean. Most of the earthquakes occurring in the Eastern Caribbean are either tectonic or volcanic in origin. Tectonic earthquakes are generated when plates move as accumulated energy is released. Volcanic earthquakes are generated by the movement of magma within the lithosphere.

The recent earthquakes in the region affecting Dominica, Guadeloupe, Central America, Trinidad and Tobago have all been tectonic. Although the earthquakes have been caused by the same process they are not related in the sense that one has not triggered the other. Scientists are still working to understand why these events are occurring in succession.

While the November 21st earthquake has placed much attention on the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes it is worthwhile to note that long after the memory of this event has faded we will continue to have earthquakes that go unnoticed. Understanding our vulnerability to these events and being prepared for earthquakes is, therefore, of utmost importance. Here are some tips on what to do before and during an earthquake:

Before

· Become actively involved in community preparedness organisations in your district. Call your local disaster response agency for contact information.

· Unstable, heavy furniture should be fastened to a wall or bolted to the floor. When loading storage cabinets heavy objects should be placed on lower shelves.

· Water heaters and other appliances should be firmly bolted down.

· All family members should know how to turn off electricity, gas and water using safety valves and main switches.

· Family members should know basic First Aid steps.

· Purchase emergency equipment such as battery-operated radios and fire extinguishers for your home.

· Always have non-perishable food items in stock.

During

· Do not panic, stay calm.

· Always protect your head and face.

· If inside a building, stand in a strong doorway, or get under a desk, table or bed. Do not try to run out of the building as you can be injured by falling debris.

· Move away from outer walls, windows, glass doors, heavy mirrors, pictures, bookcases, hanging plants and heavy objects.

· Look out for falling plaster, bricks, lighting fixtures and other objects.

· Do not use elevators.

· If you are outside, stay there. Stand away from buildings, trees, and electricity lines.

· If you are driving, you should safely bring the vehicle to a stop away from electricity poles and overhead wires. Remain in the vehicle.

For updates on these and other geologic events occurring in the region please visit the Seismic Research Unit’s website at www.uwiseismic.com. Based at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine Trinidad, the Seismic Research Unit is the agency responsible for monitoring earthquakes and volcanoes throughout the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean.

Earthquake near the east coast of Trinidad

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. --December 3rd, 2004, 1:00PM -- On Thursday afternoon December 2nd, at 3:16 PM, an earthquake occurred inland near the east coast of Trinidad about 30 km south-east of Port of Spain. This event was of magnitude 5.4 and was widely reported as felt in St. Vincent, Carriacou and throughout Trinidad as well as some areas in Tobago. There have been over 90 aftershocks following the event with the strongest aftershock (magnitude 5.1) occurring at 11:46 PM on Thursday evening.

The 3:16PM event was reported felt throughout Trinidad, including Diego Martin, St. Augustine, San Fernando, Carapachima, and Point Galeota. Reports from Mayaro describe strong shaking. The 11:46PM aftershock was reported felt in Cocorite, Tunapuna, Chaguanas and San Fernando.

Scientists at the Seismic Research Unit have described these as moderate-sized earthquakes. There have been no reports of injuries and one report of cracks in a factory wall in St. Joseph. The last event of similar magnitude was recorded on May 3rd, 1994 when an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 occurred off of the east coast of Trinidad. That event was offshore and aftershocks from the earthquake lasted for approximately four weeks. The last earthquake to cause damage in Trinidad was in 1968 and the last one to cause death was in 1954. These events were both of magnitude 6.2. In 1997 a magnitude 6.1 earthquake caused structural damage in Tobago and two people were injured.

The cause of these earthquakes is unrelated to weather conditions, rather earthquakes are caused by the movement of plates. The Earth is divided into plates (slabs of rock), which are constantly moving. The region where these plates meet is called a plate boundary. The Eastern Caribbean is an example of an island arc system formed at a convergent plate boundary (more specifically, at a subduction zone, where two tectonic plates meet and the denser plate is forced beneath the lighter plate). This is the main cause of the volcanic and seismic activity in the Eastern Caribbean. Most of the earthquakes occurring in the Eastern Caribbean are either tectonic or volcanic in origin. Tectonic earthquakes are generated when plates move as accumulated energy is released. Volcanic earthquakes are generated by the movement of magma within the lithosphere.

The recent earthquakes in the region affecting Dominica, Guadeloupe, Central America, Trinidad and Tobago have all been tectonic and are not related to volcanic activity. Although the earthquakes have been caused by the same process they are not related in the sense that one has not triggered the other. Scientists are still working to understand why these events are occurring in succession.

While the December 2nd earthquake has placed much attention on Trinidad’s vulnerability to earthquakes it is worthwhile to note that long after the memory of this event has faded Trinidad will continue to have earthquakes that go unnoticed. There are hundreds of earthquakes occurring near Trinidad each year with an average of five to seven of them being felt. Understanding our vulnerability to these events and being prepared for earthquakes is, therefore, of utmost importance. Here are some tips on what to do before and during an earthquake:

Before

· Become actively involved in community preparedness organisations in your district. Call NEMA for contact information.

· Unstable, heavy furniture should be fastened to a wall or bolted to the floor. When loading storage cabinets heavy objects should be placed on lower shelves.

· Water heaters and other appliances should be firmly bolted down.

· All family members should know how to turn off electricity, gas and water using safety valves and main switches.· Family members should know basic First Aid steps.

· Purchase emergency equipment such as battery-operated radios and fire extinguishers for your home.

· Always have non-perishable food items in stock.

During

· Do not panic, stay calm.

· Always protect your head and face.

· If inside a building, stand in a strong doorway, or get under a desk, table or bed. Do not try to run out of the building as you can be injured by falling debris.

· Move away from outer walls, windows, glass doors, heavy mirrors, pictures, bookcases, hanging plants and heavy objects.

· Look out for falling plaster, bricks, lighting fixtures and other objects.

· Do not use elevators.

· If you are outside, stay there. Stand away from buildings, trees, and electricity lines.

· If you are driving, you should safely bring the vehicle to a stop away from electricity poles and overhead wires. Remain in the vehicle.

Damage to the Hilton Hotel, Trinidad 1968

UWI teams up with GSTT to celebrate Earth Science Week

St. Augustine, Trinidad - October 9th, 2003 - Between 12-18th October the Seismic Research Unit will team up with the APG Student Chapter at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies and the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago to stage a number of activities to commemorate Earth Scienct Week. The activities will include an exhibition, public lecture etc.

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Red Cross and Geologists Team up for Community Lectures

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic--September 4th, 2003-- Between 19th-23rd August the Seismic Research Unit teamed up with the Red Cross Societies of Grenada and Dominica to teach community leaders about volcanic hazards threatening the region. Dr. Richard Robertson, a geologist at the Unit and expert on volcanoes in the Eastern Caribbean, met with representatives from the local disaster management agencies and community disaster committees to advance public awareness of regional volcanic hazards as well as disaster preparedness measures that communities can employ to mitigate the impact of volcanic activity.

Dr. Robertson’s lectures focused on such volcanic threats as Kick ‘em Jenny (a highly active submarine volcano located off the northern coast of Grenada) and the unusually large number of ‘live’ onshore volcanoes on Dominica. A video (Volcano Island) of the ongoing eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat illustrated the devastating effects of volcanic activity on surrounding areas while promoting practical steps that vulnerable communities can take to protect lives and property. The presentation closed with Dr. Robertson and Red Cross staff facilitating a group discussion in which participants voiced their queries and concerns regarding regional volcanic hazards and community disaster preparedness.

The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Red Cross (ARC) sponsored the trip as part of a regional disaster management initiative known as the Community Disaster Preparedness, Education and Mitigation (CDPEM) program. ARC partners with the Red Cross Societies of Grenada, Dominica, Guyana and Belize to assist communities in the formation of disaster committees, the development of community and household disaster plans, and the design and implementation of small-scale, non-structural mitigation projects. Central to the success of the program has been the promotion of community disaster preparedness messages through an extensive awareness campaign utilizing billboards, posters, public service announcements and expert lectures. The program also emphasizes enhanced collaboration between regional, national and community-level research and response organizations.

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Scientists find volcanic craters off Grenada

St. Augustine, Trinidad W.I.-- March 25th, 2003 -- After ten days of intense research, scientists have discovered three volcanic craters and two cones near the Kick ‘em Jenny submarine volcano. Under a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a joint team of scientists from the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Rhode Island (URI) and NOAA conducted a detailed oceanographic survey and sampling of the volcano from the 12th-21st March, 2003. Preliminary findings were revealed at a press conference on Saturday in St. George’s, Grenada.

The scientists were unable to confirm that these craters were in fact separate ‘live’ volcanoes. Chief Scientist on the project Professor Haraldur Sigurdsson (URI) said that “We know of no historical eruptions from these craters. I suspect that they may be extinct. We will use chemical analysis of the rocks to tell whether these are separate volcanoes or not. If the rocks from the new craters are of the same chemistry as Kick ‘em Jenny then they are being fed from the same source. We will need to investigate this further,” said Sigurdsson. One of the volcanoes has tentatively been named ‘Kick ‘em Jack’.

Kick 'em Jenny is located 8km north of Grenada and it provides scientists with a unique natural laboratory to study the activity at a shallow submarine volcano that will one day emerge to form a new volcanic island. It is the only 'live' submarine volcano in the West Indies known to scientists and it has erupted at least 12 times since 1939. The last major eruption was 4th-6th December, 2001. It is the most intensively monitored volcano in the Eastern Caribbean and probably the most intensively monitored submarine volcano in the world.

Although Kick ‘em Jenny has been surveyed at least eleven times since 1962, this cruise was the most detailed study to date. The scientists worked continuously on board NOAA’s flagship vessel R/V Ronald H. Brown using state of the art equipment to conduct multi-disciplinary research which included the examination of aspects of submarine eruption style, magmatic evolution, hazards, influence on biological activity, and potential hydrothermal mineralization.

Aside from the ‘new’ craters, scientists also discovered that Kick ‘em Jenny was continuously releasing gas bubbles. This finding confirms previous beliefs that the volcano is actively degassing. This degassing can occur during or between eruptions and it can significantly lower the density of the water, thereby posing a serious danger to shipping.

“For almost two years we have been working with the Grenadian government to enforce a 1.5km exclusion zone around the summit of Kick ‘em Jenny but it continues to be ignored primarily by pleasure boats. This is a serious danger,” remarked Professor John Shepherd, Head of the Seismic Research Unit at the University of the West Indies.

In addition to the geology, scientists also collected impressive biological samples from the volcano. Biologist at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, Dr. Karen Wishner commented that “There is quite a special biological community there which is significant not just to Grenada but to international science because these are the first shallow vent communities found.” Shallow submarine active craters such as Kick ‘em Jenny, provide a unique biological environment and it is quite possible to find life forms here that cannot be found elsewhere in the world.

The principal investigators on the cruise were Professor John Shepherd (UWI), Professor Haraldur Sigurdsson (URI), Professor Steve Carey (URI) and Dr. Doug Wilson (NOAA). The scientists added that they had collected much more data than expected and they hoped to publish their findings before the end of the year. They also hope to conduct further research on the volcano.

Sigurdsson ended by commenting that “We continue to be amazed and puzzled by this volcano. We are thankful to the people of Grenada for allowing us to conduct this study and we hope to find additional funding for further research.”

A daily log with images from the cruise can be found at www.uwiseismic.com. The Seismic Research Unit is the agency responsible for monitoring earthquakes and volcanoes throughout the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean.

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Under NOAA's Teacher at Sea programme, teachers from elementary school through college go to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Now in its 12th year, the programme has enabled more than 360 teachers to gain first-hand experience of science at sea.

Kick 'em Jenny provides scientists and students with unique natural laboratory to study the activity and emergence of a new volcanic island. It is the only 'live' submarine volcano in the West Indies known to scientists and it has erupted at least 12 times since 1939. The principal investigators on the cruise comprise scientists from the Seismic Research Unit, the University of Rhode Island and NOAA/OAR.

A daily log with images from the cruise will be posted on this site during the expedition. Click here for more information on Kick 'em Jenny and check this site regularly for further details on this research project. For more information on NOAA's Teacher at Sea Programme click here.

URI Graduate School of Oceanography Scientists to Study Caribbean Submarine Volcano “Kick ‘Em Jenny

Narragansett, RI--February 28, 2003--URI Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) marine geologists Haraldur Sigurdsson and Steve Carey have received a $283,000 grant from NOAA's Ocean Exploration Program to carry out an interdisciplinary study of the active submarine volcano Kick 'em Jenny in the southern Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea.

The research is a collaborative project with Dr. John Shepherd of the Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Dr. Doug Wilson of the NOAA/OAR lab in Annapolis, MD.

Kick'em Jenny is one of the most active volcanoes in the Caribbean and is currently only 190 meters below the surface. It last erupted in December 2001. Numerous historical eruptions, mostly documented by acoustic signals, have occurred since first documented in 1939, when an eruption cloud rose 900 feet above the sea surface. Other known eruptions occurred in 1943, 1953, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1988 and 1990. The eruptions of 1939 and 1974 ejected eruption columns above the sea surface.

Kick 'em Jenny, like many other submarine volcanoes is a particularly efficient generator of acoustic signals which are transmitted through the ocean. These can be heard underwater (and on land close to the volcano) as a deep rumbling noise but more importantly they are recorded by seismograph stations. On several occasions they have been felt, strongly in northern Grenada and the Grenadines and perceptibly as far away as Martinique.

A two-week research cruise aboard the NOAA vessel R/V Ronald H. Brown will take place from March 10-23. The far-ranging study will include SEABEAM mapping, ROV exploration and sampling of the submarine cone, seismic surveying, sediment coring, biological studies and sampling.

"We now have a unique opportunity to get into the crater of this active volcano, without risking our lives,” said Sigurdsson. “The last time I visited Kick'em Jenny was in a submersible or a small submarine in 1989, and we had equipment failure right on the volcano at 700 feet depth. I will be looking forward to examining the volcano up close and personal this time, but without risking my life!"

GSO marine biologists David Smith and Karen Wishner will be examining microbiological and macrobiological communities in the crater area of the volcano. Kick'em Jenny is known to produce huge bacterial blooms following an eruption, and the expedition will examine the way in which the volcanic activity stimulates subsequent biological activity in and around the crater.

Also participating in the cruise are GSO graduate students Dwight Coleman, Scott Lundin and Andrew Staroscik. URI's oceanographers have followed the growth and evolution of this very active volcano since 1972, but have never before been equipped with the array of instrumentation at their disposal on this cruise.

The URI Graduate School of Oceanography is one of the country's largest marine science education programs, and one of the world's foremost marine research institutions. Founded in 1961 in Narragansett, RI, GSO serves a community of scientists who are researching the causes of and solutions to such problems as acid rain, harmful algal blooms, global warming, air and water pollution, oil spills, overfishing, and coastal erosion. GSO is home to the Coastal Institute, the Coastal Resources Center, Rhode Island Sea Grant, the Institute for Archaeological Oceanography, and the National Sea Grant Library.

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