Kick ’em Jenny update: earthquakes slowing, alert level remains at Orange

There has been a significant slowing of Kick 'em Jenny earthquakes between March 12 and 15, The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI SRC) reports.

However, activity at the volcano has seen such lulls before, without it signaling the end of unrest episode, SRC added. As a result, the alert level remains at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale) and the UWI SRC is continuing to monitor the situation.

Alert level Orange means that an eruption may begin with less than 24 hours notice. The volcano is dangerous to ships and boats and there is a 5 km (3.1 miles) exclusion zone around the volcano for mariners.

Due to the current depth and pattern of activity, it is unlikely that an eruption of Kick 'em Jenny will cause a tsunami at this time, the center said.

Residents are advised to contact national disaster management agencies or the UWI Seismic Research Centre for updates.

The UWI Seismic Research Centre is the official and leading authority on geologic hazards in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean. 

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: Kick 'em Jenny location. Credit: Google