Observing the 1979 Eruption

A collection of photos and video taken by Sir Steve Sparks during the 1979 eruption of La Soufrière St Vincent. 

On the 13th April 1979, La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent erupted explosively. Over the coming days and weeks, a variety of scientists arrived on St Vincent to observe, monitor and measure the volcano to help reduce the impacts of this and any future eruptions. 

The video below was taken by Sir Steve Sparks, a volcanologist from the UK who has spent many years studying La Soufrière.