Explainer: St. Vincent on alert after La Soufriere volcano becomes active

A volcano on Saint Vincent shows signs of erupting, prompting evacuation warnings. Observations reveal an effusive eruption and a new lava dome. The volcanic activity is due to the subduction of tectonic plates, forming stratovolcanoes that can erupt through steam-driven processes.

What prompted the potential evacuation of residents near the La Soufrière volcano?

• A hurricane warning

• Signs of volcanic eruption

• A tsunami alert

• An earthquake

What significant geological event was observed at the La Soufrière volcano?

• Formation of a new lava dome

• A decrease in volcanic activity

• A large earthquake

• A landslide

What causes the volcanic activity in the eastern Caribbean?

• Erosion of the Caribbean plate

• Subduction of the North American Plate

• Collision of the African and Caribbean plates

• Movement of the Pacific Plate

How does a stratovolcano form?

• Through the collision of tectonic plates

• Through the heating of water in the crust by magma

• By the erosion of a mountain

• By the accumulation of lava flows

What is a hydrothermal eruption?

• An eruption resulting from a meteor impact

• An eruption caused by the collapse of a volcano

• An eruption caused by tectonic plate movement

• An eruption driven by steam pressure