The Lava Dome Today

Usually, the lava dome is shrouded either in clouds or volcanic gasses, and we rarely get a good view of the dome and its current morphology. These pictures were taken by MVO scientist Karen Pascal from a helicopter, looking north to northwest.

The rugged surface of the lava dome at Soufrière Hills. Credit: Karen Pascal

As lava is extruded, the shape of the lava dome constantly changes. By monitoring such changes in dome morphology, we can study how and how fast lava is extruded. This is important because rapid dome growth increases the likelihood of dome instabilities and collapse, which forms hazardous pyroclastic flows. Credit: Karen Pascal