Kick ’em Jenny volcano alert level remains Yellow

Increased activity of undersea volcano Kick 'em Jenny continues since April 29, 2017, when the UWI SRC recorded a high amplitude signal, lasting about 25 seconds.

The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) continues to collaborate with the Seismic Research Centre (SRC), University of the West Indies to monitor activities at the Kick em’ Jenny volcano, the center reported today.

Volcanic episodes at Kick 'em Jenny, since 1939, usually consist of several eruptions lasting over several days before returning to repose. Therefore, further eruptions should be expected in this episode, SRC said. "It would be useful for those in coastal areas to be on the lookout for unusual material that might be ejected from April 29^th eruption," it added.

The alert level is Yellow (2 of 5). This alert level means that vessels should observe a 1.5 km (0.93 miles) exclusion zone. However, as a precautionary measure, the marine community is advised to continue observing the 5 km (3.1 miles) exclusion zone. The SRC has advised that heightened alert is necessary for the exclusion zone.

Credit: UWI/SRC

The general population is reminded that the official advisories on this matter, and all other disaster related matters will come directly from the NaDMA who reminded about responsible use of social media.

"The population can rest assured that SRC continues to monitor the system and NaDMA will continue to liaise with SRC and provide updates," the center concluded.

Geological summary

Kick 'em Jenny, a historically active submarine volcano 8 km (5 miles) off the north shore of Grenada, rises 1 300 m (0.8 miles) from the sea floor. Recent bathymetric surveys have shown evidence for a major arcuate collapse structure that was the source of a submarine debris avalanche that traveled more than 15 km (9.3 miles) to the west.

Bathymetry also revealed another submarine cone to the SE, Kick 'em Jack, and submarine lava domes to its south. These and subaerial tuff rings and lava flows at Ile de Caille and other nearby islands may represent a single large volcanic complex.

Numerous historical eruptions, mostly documented by acoustic signals, have occurred at Kick 'em Jenny since 1939, when an eruption cloud rose 275 m (0.17 miles) above the sea surface. Prior to the 1939 eruption, which was witnessed by a large number of people in northern Grenada, there had been no written mention of Kick 'em Jenny. Eruptions have involved both explosive activity and the quiet extrusion of lava flows and lava domes in the summit crater; deep rumbling noises have sometimes been heard onshore. Historical eruptions have modified the morphology of the summit crater. (GVP)

Featured image credit: UWI/SRC