Guest post by Richie Robertson, Director of University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre

La Soufriere volcano looms largely in the consciousness of most Vincentians.  Although it occupies the northern third of the island and is often shrouded in clouds, it does not take very much to command our attention.  There have been numerous instances in the past when the occasional smell of sulphur, thunderstorms over the volcano and the spurious observation of someone visiting the summit crater, have led to rumours of an eruption.  It is, therefore, not surprising that the most recent eruption of the volcano still remains fresh in the minds of those of us who experienced it.

St Vincent in eruption, April 1979. Photo credit – Steve Sparks.

My own path to becoming a volcanologist and current leader of the regional volcano monitoring organization in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean began with the 1979 eruption.  I…