Soufriere St. Vincent is an active stratovolcano located in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at a subduction zone on oceanic crust less than 15 kilometers deep. Standing at an elevation of 1,220 meters, the volcano has a recorded history of 22 confirmed eruptions cataloged in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database. These events range from ancient activity dated via uncalibrated radiocarbon methods to thoroughly documented historical observations.
Chronology of Recorded Eruptions
The confirmed eruption record spans thousands of years, beginning with an earliest recorded eruption around 2380 BCE (with an uncertainty of 100 years). Activity throughout the record is documented using a mix of isotopic dating techniques—such as uncalibrated 14C methods for ancient events—and direct human observations for more recent centuries.
Among the 22 confirmed eruptions, 8 entries include a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) rating. The largest recorded VEI for the volcano is 4.0. Representative historical events include the explosive activity lasting from April 27, 1812, to June 9, 1812, which involved the old summit crater and a new northeast rim crater with a VEI of 4.0. More recently, an eruption began on December 27, 2020, and continued until April 22, 2021, also registering a VEI of 4.0.
Distribution of Activity Across Centuries
The 22 confirmed eruptions are distributed across multiple centuries and millennia BCE and CE, reflecting varying intervals of repose and activity:
- 24th century BCE: 2 eruptions
- 22nd century BCE: 2 eruptions
- 21st century BCE: 1 eruption
- 16th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 8th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 6th century BCE: 1 eruption
- 10th century CE: 1 eruption
- 14th century CE: 2 eruptions
- 15th century CE: 1 eruption
- 16th century CE: 1 eruption
- 17th century CE: 1 eruption
- 18th century CE: 2 eruptions
- 19th century CE: 2 eruptions
- 20th century CE: 3 eruptions
- 21st century CE: 1 eruption
Frequently asked questions
How many eruptions has Soufriere St. Vincent had?
Soufriere St. Vincent has 22 confirmed eruptions recorded in the official database, spanning from approximately 2380 BCE to the 21st century CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Soufriere St. Vincent?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Soufriere St. Vincent is 4.0.
Where is Soufriere St. Vincent located?
Soufriere St. Vincent is located in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at latitude 13.33 and longitude -61.18, sitting in a subduction zone on oceanic crust.
Image credits
- RCI Martinique — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY 3.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.