Regional undersea volcano shows signs of erupting

Morphology of Kick’em Jenny volcano, as revealed by a multi-beam survey by the NOAA Ship Ron Brown in March 2002. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

(CNS): The seismic research centre at the University of the West Indies has issued an advisory regarding the underwater volcano, Kick ‘em Jenny, located off the coast of Grenada. Experts said a strong continuous signal was observed on instruments monitoring the submarine volcano early Thursday morning following signs of already elevated activity and quakes in the area since 11 July. More than 200 micro and small earthquakes of varying magnitudes have been recorded at the location and divers have seen gas rich magma bubbles.

Although the Kick’em Jenny is a considerable distance from Cayman, posing no threat to this country at all, HCMI said it is monitoring the elevated alert and possibility of an eruption. The experts have placed the alert to orange, stating that it could erupt within the next 24 hours, presenting a possible threat of a tsunami, ballistic projectiles, such as hot rocks, and lowered water density in the Eastern Caribbean.  An exclusion zone has been established according to the Alert Level, which is 5km from the summit.

The volcano, which was discovered in the 1930’s, has erupted relatively frequently without any serious consequences, though in 1939 it shot a cloud of ash some 900 feet above the surface of the ocean.

For more information visit the UWI Seismic research Centre