The Montserrat Volcano Observatory

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) was established shortly after the first phreatic eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano on July 18th 1995. Since then, the MVO monitors and provides advice about the activity of Soufrière Hills to the Government of Montserrat. Collected monitoring data is published in a Weekly Activity Report, and forms the basis for an annual formal risk assessment, produced by the MVO and the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

MVO has occupied five different buildings since the eruption began in 1995. The current building on Hope Dr Fleming was purpose-built by the Government of Montserrat in 2003. Credit: MVO Archive

The MVO is also responsible for outreach related to the Soufrière Hills Volcano, including public meetings, work with schools and communities, local radio broadcasting, and national and international media enquiries.

The Observatory is staffed by scientists from a variety of organisations working with local personnel. The scientific teams come mainly from the Seismic Research Unit (SRU) of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and the British Geological Survey (BGS).

To find out more about MVO, visit their website, facebook, or youtube channel.