Kick ’em Jenny (Grenada): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Kick 'em Jenny is a complex submarine volcano situated off the coast of Grenada at a summit elevation of -185.0 meters below sea level, operating within a subduction zone and oceanic crust setting less than 15 kilometers deep. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the official record documents 15 confirmed eruptions spanning from the 10th century CE to the 21st century CE.

The historical record captures activity through various evidence methods, ranging from early anthropological correlations to modern reported observations and hydrophonic monitoring. The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for the volcano is 1.0, observed across multiple events where data was recorded.

Historical Eruption Timeline and Century Distribution

The confirmed eruption record begins in the 10th century CE, specifically estimated around the year 1000 CE with a start year uncertainty of 200 years, identified through anthropological correlation near Ile de Caille. Following the early medieval record, documented activity shifts heavily into the 20th and 21st centuries. Out of the 15 total confirmed eruptions, 11 occurred during the 20th century CE, and 3 have been recorded during the 21st century CE.

Individual documented events illustrate the changing methods of recording submarine volcanic activity over time:

• 1000 CE (approximate): Indicated by anthropological correlation near Ile de Caille, carrying an uncertainty span of 200 years.
• July 24, 1939: Recorded via direct human observation, reaching a VEI of 1.0.
• October 24, 1965: Identified through hydrophonic observation with a VEI of 0.0.
• September 5 – September 6, 1974: Documented via reported observations with a VEI of 0.0.
• April 29, 2017: Recorded through hydrophonic monitoring as a confirmed eruption with a VEI of 0.0. This event matches the latest recorded eruption year in the profile.

Volcanic Profile and Monitoring Context

As a complex submarine structure positioned at latitude 12.3 and longitude -61.64, Kick 'em Jenny's eruptions are primarily tracked via specialized instrumentation such as hydrophonic networks alongside traditional visual and reported observations. Out of the 15 confirmed eruptions in the database, 14 include a recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index, with the highest reaching VEI 1.0. The most recent confirmed eruption in the official dataset concluded on April 29, 2017.