Pyroclastic flows generated by gravitational instability of the 1996–97 Lava Dome of Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat

Numerous pyroclastic flows were produced during 1996–97 by collapse of the growing andesitic lava dome at Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. Measured deposit volumes from these flows range from 0.2 to 9 × 10 6 m³. Flows range from discrete, single pulse events to sustained large scale dome collapse events. Flows entered the sea on the eastern and southern coasts, depositing large fans of material at the coast. Small runout distance (<1 km) flows had average flow front velocities in the order of 3–10 m/s while flow fronts of the larger runout distance flows (up to 6.5 km) advanced in the order of 15–30 m/s. Many flows were locally highly erosive. Field relations show that development of the fine grained ash cloud surge component was enhanced during the larger sustained events. Periods of elevated pyroclastic flow productivity and sustained dome collapse events are linked to pulses of high magma extrusion rates.