Abstract
FOR some time, according to The Times of February 7, earth-tremors have been occurring in Montserrat, one of the Leeward Islands. The subject having been referred to it by the Colonial Secretary, the Royal Society has recommended that an expedition should be sent to the Island to make a careful study of the tremors, and has undertaken to organise it and contribute the sum of £300 towards the cost. Since its discovery in 1493, Montserrat has shared to some extent in the destructive earthquakes of neighbouring islands, especially in those of Antigua in 1690, 1785, 1831 and 1874, and of Guadeloupe in 1843. In 1897-99, it was, however, visited by four semi-destructive earthquakes (intensity I., Milne scale), the origins of which must have been within, or close to, the Island. Whether the recent tremors are the forerunners of another earthquake of the same type or of an eruption of the Soufriere, or merely an isolated series of slight earthquakes, would be determined effectively by the erection of portable tremo-meters, such as are used on similar occasions in Japan, at four stations in different parts of the Island. From the duration of the preliminary tremors, it would be possible to determine the surface position and depth of the focus of every earthquake recorded at all four stations. The results so obtained could not fail to be of value. At the same time, they might tend to allay anxiety in the Island or to suggest precautions for the future.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Earth-Tremors in Montserrat. Nature 137, 266 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137266b0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137266b0