The level of seismic activity over the past 24 hours has increased significantly.
Between 4pm yesterday and 4pm today there were 3 rockfall signals, 10 hybrid earthquakes and 9 volcano-tectonic earthquakes. There was a swarm of hybrid and volcano-tectonic earthquakes early this morning. The earthquakes occurred at shallower levels in the volcano than those over the last few weeks. One small regional earthquake was recorded on the local network located east of Montserrat.
Visibility was excellent during the first part of the morning. There have been no significant changes to the dome's surface, apart from small gullies cut by rockfall activity in the Tar River Valley side of the dome.
A trip was made to the summit of Chances Peak today. It had been hoped to reinstall a tiltmeter, as all the MVO's monitoring equipment there was destroyed in the explosions last autumn. The summit area is littered with blocks, many of which are over 1 metre across, and the thickness of deposits is probably too great to install a stable station there. Attempts will be made slightly lower down on the flank of the Chances Peak. Ideally a tiltemeter would be installed very close to the lava dome where deformation is greatest, but the instrument has to be installed on a very solid base to provide reliable results.
Dust levels at all monitoring stations remained low today.
Residents are reminded that the volcano remains in an active state, and that they should continue listening to Radio Montserrat in case the present quiet situation at the volcano changes suddenly.