The level of activity at the Soufriere Hills Volcano has been at a much lower level over the last 24 hours.
The seismicity records show just a few hybrid earthquakes and no volcano-tectonic or long period events, rockfalls were also reduced but at about 7 pm last night activity ramped up for a few hours. During this time (about 6 hours) there were rockfalls and a few small pyroclastic flows and then it quietened down again.
The area of activity seems to be on the north eastern flank of the dome above Tuitt's Ghaut and last night there was some evidence of incandescent material falling into the ghaut. The few pyroclastic flows in the reporting period however, were all in the upper reaches of the Tar River Valley.
COSPEC measurements were taken yesterday to measure the amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere and results showed a little over 600 tonnes per day, this is a lot less than yesterday and reflects the reduction in volcanic activity over the last 24 hours.
This morning and for most of yesterday the visibility on the dome was very poor, however scientists are advising that the area of active dome growth includes the southeastern, eastern and northern sections of the dome. Tuitt's, Mosquito and Whites Ghauts are all at risk with the probability of pyroclastic flows into them increasing.
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