montserrat geography case study

Causes of 1995 eruptions                   Basic history of volcano

Details of eruption, effects of the eruption, immediate and long term responses.

To evaluate the causes and effects of the Montserrat eruption and suggest sustainable ways to rebuild the island

Starter : Read the intro of the wikipedia page on Montserrat and take five notes of the features you find most relevant about this island. 

Task 1 - Study the Google maps below and make three notes of the physical characteristics of the island of Montserrat. 

Task 2 - Study the BBC bitesize case study in the textbox below and, on your exercise book, answer the questions that follow it.  (Click to open) 

Case study: Chances Peak, Montserrat, 1995-97 - an LEDC

Plymouth covered in ash from volcanic eruptions on Montserrat

Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean. There is a volcanic area located in the south of the island on Soufriere Hills called Chances Peak . Before 1995 it had been dormant for over 300 years. In 1995 the volcano began to give off warning signs of an eruption (small earthquakes and eruptions of dust and ash). Once Chances Peak had woken up it then remained active for five years. The most intense eruptions occurred in 1997.

During this time, Montserrat was devastated by pyroclastic flows . The small population of the island (11,000 people) was evacuated in 1995 to the north of Montserrat as well as to neighbouring islands and the UK.

Despite the evacuations, 19 people were killed by the eruptions as a small group of people chose to stay behind to watch over their crops.

Volcanic eruptions and lahars have destroyed large areas of Montserrat. The capital, Plymouth, has been covered in layers of ash and mud. Many homes and buildings have been destroyed, including the only hospital, the airport and many roads.

The graphic shows the progress of the eruption and its impact on the island.

Montserrat - eruption progress and impact

Short-term responses and results

• Evacuation.
• Abandonment of the capital city.
• The British government gave money for compensation and redevelopment.
• Unemployment rose due to the collapse of the tourist industry.

Long-term responses and results

• An exclusion zone was set up in the volcanic region.
• A volcanic observatory was built to monitor the volcano.
• New roads and a new airport were built.
• Services in the north of the island were expanded.
• The presence of the volcano resulted in a growth in tourism.

Volcanic activity has calmed down in recent years and people have begun to return to the island.

You might be asked to consider the values and attitudes or opinions of people involved in the eruption, such as refugees or aid workers for example.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/natural_hazards/volcanoes_rev6.shtml 

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zgh79qt/revision/6

Click here to view http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Plate%20Tectonics/Extra_case_studies/Montserrat.htm As a precaution, Firefly only embeds content that has a certificate to prove it's sent over the web securely.

http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Plate%20Tectonics/Extra_case_studies/Montserrat.htm

Questions :       a. Define i. pyroclastic flows, ii. evacuated, iii. lahar                                                 b. Describe the short-term and long-term responses and results.

Task 3 - Watch the video below and complement your notes with additional information. 

Task 4 - You have been asked to rebuild Montserrat following the volcanic eruption. You have been given £84,000 (£21,000 per year) to spend over 4 years but must make sure you spend it wisely and consider where to put your new facilities on your map. Your teacher will give you a copy of the document below: 

• montserrat restructuring priorities SEN.docx

• International
• Schools directory
• Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search

Montserrat Volcano 1995-1997 Case Study

Subject: Geography

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

26 November 2018

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 55%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

GCSE Geography Hazards case studies bundle

6 resources that could all be used as case studies for various GCSE geography courses. Includes lessons on: \- Australia's 'Big Dry' Drought \- The 2009 Cockermouth Floods \- Kenya's 2009 Drought \- Montserrat 1995-97 Volcanic Eruption \- Pakistan Earthquake 2005 \- The potential threat of an Atlantic mega-tsunami

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

On a mission to end educational inequality for young people everywhere.

ZNotes Education Limited is incorporated and registered in England and Wales, under Registration number: 12520980 whose Registered office is at: Docklands Lodge Business Centre, 244 Poplar High Street, London, E14 0BB. “ZNotes” and the ZNotes logo are trademarks of ZNotes Education Limited (registration UK00003478331).

• 0 Shopping Cart

Geography Case Studies

All of our geography case studies in one place

Coastal Erosion

Use the images below to find out more about each case study.

The Holderness Coast

The Dorset Coast

Happisburgh

Coastal Management

Sandscaping at Bacton, Norfolk

Coastal Realignment Donna Nook

Coastal Realignment Medmerry

Coastal Deposition

Spurn Point

Blakeney Point Spit

Earthquakes

Amatrice Earthquake Case Study

Chile Earthquake 2010

Christchurch Earthquake

Haiti Earthquake

Japan Earthquake 2011

L’Aquila Earthquake

Lombok Indonesia Earthquake 2018

Nepal Earthquake 2015

Sulawesi, Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami 2018

New Zealand 2016

Malaysia Causes of Deforestation

Malaysia Impacts of Deforestation

Alaska Case Study

Epping Forest Case Study

Sahara Desert Case Study

Svalbard Case Study

Thar Desert Case Study

Western Desert Case Study

Energy Resources

Chambamontera Micro-hydro Scheme

Extreme Weather in the UK

Beast from the East Case Study

Storm Ciera Case Study

Food Resources

Almería, Spain: a large-scale agricultural development

The Indus Basin Irrigation System: a large-scale agricultural development

Sustainable food supplies in a LIC – Bangladesh

Sustainable food supplies in a LIC – Makueni, Kenya

Landforms on the River Tees

Landforms on the River Severn

Indus River Basin (CIE)

River Flooding

Jubilee River Flood Management Scheme

Banbury Flood Management Scheme

Boscastle Floods

Kerala Flood 2018

Wainfleet Floods 2019

The Somerset Levels Flood Case Study

UK Floods Case Study November 2019

River Management

The Three Gorges Dam

Mekong River

The Changing Economic World

How can the growth of tourism reduce the development gap? Jamaica Case Study

How can the growth of tourism reduce the development gap? Tunisia Case Study

India Case Study of Development

Nigeria – A NEE

Torr Quarry

Nissan Sunderland

The London Sustainable Industries Park (London SIP)

Tropical Storms

Beast from the East

Hurricane Andrew

Cyclone Eline

Cyclone Idai Case Study

Typhoon Haiyan 2013

Hurricane Irma 2017

Typhoon Jebi 2018

Hurricane Florence 2018

Typhoon Mangkhut 2018

Urban Issues

Birmingham – Edexcel B

Urban Growth in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro

Urban Growth in India – Mumbai

Urban Growth in Nigeria – Lagos

London – A Case Study of a UK City

Inner City Redevelopment – London Docklands

Sustainable Urban Living – Freiburg

Sustainable Urban Living – East Village

Sustainable Urban Transport Bristol Case Study

Bristol – A major UK city

Volcanic Eruptions

Eyjafjallajokull – 2010

Mount Merapi – 2010

Mount Pinatubo – 1991

Sakurajima Case Study

Nyiragongo Case Study

Water Resources

Hitosa, Ethiopia – A local water supply scheme in an LIC

The South-North Water Transfer Project, China

Wakal River Basin Project

Lesotho Large-Scale Water Transfer Scheme

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Please Support Internet Geography

If you've found the resources on this site useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site. The site is self-funded and your support is really appreciated.

Search Internet Geography

Top posts and pages.

Latest Blog Entries

Pin It on Pinterest

• Click to share
• Print Friendly

Skip to content

Get Revising

Join get revising, already a member, case study- monserrat.

• Created by: 8cburton
• Created on: 11-05-15 14:24

Geological Background

Monserrat is in the northern part of the lesser Antilles volcanic island arc marking the destructive plate boundary margin resulting from the subduction of the North American plate below the Carribbean plate . 4 volcanic centres but 3 are dorminant (sources of magma removed) but soufriere hills are active.

Soufriere Hills

Composite volcanic cones made of andesite (acid) magma with some basalt (basic) intrusions. There are springs and fumaroles on the slopes and densely populated areas.

Earthquakes above background levels + small eruptions. By the end of the year magma had reached the surface and a laval dome bgan to grow.

In June 1997

Series of small earthquakes followed by pyroclastic flows (100kmh) partially buried the community of spanish point . By sept this community was completely covered.

In sept-oct 1997

74 magmatic explosive eruptions. Large metre sized rocks thrown 1.5km . Vertically ejected material runs out of kinetic energy and falls back 300m in an eruption called a fountain collapse .

Main eruption

4-5 million m3 of material released in a 20 min period. Pyroclastic flow detroyed plymouth. 100 million m3 of debris and ash have been remobilised by rains to swamp the town further in flash floods and lahars. (The 1998 hurricane season rains resulted in many lahars. Parts of the town were buried under 10 metres of debris). Ash deposites place considerable strains on buildings causing them to collapse. Ash contains fine silica materials which cause complications when breathed in. 30 cm of ash fell on plymouth blown by the prevailing wind. Pyroclastic surges are the most dangerous effects of volcanic activity. Buildings are knocked down…

• Plate tectonics

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

Geography A-Level - Physical - Volcanic Hazards 0.0 / 5

Volcanic Eruption 0.0 / 5

Volcano Case Studies 0.0 / 5

Plate Tectonics 5 5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating

CBD Watford High Street Regeneration 0.0 / 5

Plate Tectonics 4 1.0 / 5 based on 1 rating

Case Study: Boxing day tsunami 0.0 / 5

Water and carbon case studies 0.0 / 5

Glaciation Case studies 0.0 / 5

Hazardous Earth Case Studies 4.0 / 5 based on 1 rating

Related discussions on The Student Room

• Edexcel A level Geography (2016) Notes »
• Eduqas A-level Geography Component 1 (A110U10-1) - 17th May 2023 [Exam Chat] »
• Is CGP good for A level? »
• AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1 (8035/1) - 22nd May 2023 [Exam Chat] »
• geography a level question »
• Edexcel A-Level Geography Paper 1 | [17th May 2023] Exam Chat »
• should i take alevel ECCONOMICS or GEOGRAPHY? »
• OCR A Level Geography Geographical debates H481/03 - 17 Jun 2022 [Exam Chat] »
• case studies for ocr gcse geography b »
• AQA A Level Geography Paper 1 (7037/1) - 17th May 2023 [Exam Chat] »

Share This Flashcard Set

Please sign in to share these flashcards. We'll bring you back here when you are done.

Don't have an account? Sign Up »

Set the Language

We weren't able to detect the audio language on your flashcards. Please select the correct language below.

Related Flashcards

• The Maldives Geography GCSE Case Study
• Studland Bay Geography GCSE Case Study
• The Andes Case Study GCSE Geography
• Abbotts Hall Farm, Managed Retreat, G...
• Spurn Point Salt Marsh Geography GCSE...
• Geography cairo case study
• Holbeck Hall Geography Case Study
• 2010 Case Study
• Case Study 1
•  » 
• Montserrat Eruption Geography GCSE AQA Case Study

Montserrat Eruption Geography Gcse Aqa Case Study

by Emmalegend , Nov. 2014

Subjects: Montserrat Volcanic Eruption, AQA Geography GCSE, Case Study

• Click to Rate "Hated It"
• Click to Rate "Didn't Like It"
• Click to Rate "Liked It"
• Click to Rate "Really Liked It"
• Click to Rate "Loved It"

Add to folder Introducing Cram Folders! Find out how you can intelligently organize your Flashcards.

Add to Folders

Please sign in to add to folders.

Upgrade to Cram Premium

You have created 2 folders. Please upgrade to Cram Premium to create hundreds of folders!

Related Essays

Introduction In this paper the Soufriere Hills Volcano will be analyzes in several different parts; an introduction to the Soufriere Hills volcano, the co...

The eruption left hundreds of residents homeless and also changed the island’s shoreline

The Mount Etna stratovolcano (37.734 N, 15.00 E) is located near the metropolitan area of Cataina. The volcano towers 3,330 meters high with the island it si...

(Gratan et al, 2003) explains that volcanic eruptions can affect ‘distant environments’ such as England. This paper explains the effect of volcanogenic pollu...

This eruption and many more devastated the people living

This eruption put out five years worth of man made pollution in hours. It was so bad, it stopped air flights from entering or leaving the boundaries of the i...

Mount Saint Helens First Hand Account- Tom Roe The eruption of Mount Saint Helens impacted thousands the day of its eruption, and the weeks following. The...

The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was undeniably devastating. Men, women and children alike lost their lives during this catastrophic natural disaster. They were...

The volcanic eruption is one of the most common natural disasters around the world along history. The volcanic eruption is highly dangerous while costing man...

The impact on the families was difficult because people went on any boats to get safe away from the volcano and some people never saw their families again be...

• Shuffle Toggle On Toggle Off
• Alphabetize Toggle On Toggle Off
• Front First Toggle On Toggle Off
• Both Sides Toggle On Toggle Off
• Read Toggle On Toggle Off

Card Range To Study

Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;

H to show hint;

A reads text to speech;

18 Cards in this Set