The UWI Seismic Research Centre launches photographic book on Montserrat eruption
{gallery}http://www.flickr.com/photos/theuwi/sets/72157627938414722/{/gallery} The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) launched the book : Island of Fire: The Natural Spectacle of the Soufrière Hills Volcano Montserrat, on Tuesday October 18th at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. The book launch was part of the University’s Earth Science Week Celebration which ran from October 10th-20th at NAPA and was themed “Our Ever-changing Earth”.
The first of its kind for the Caribbean, the book Island of Fire, is a photographic collection depicting the volcanic eruption in Montserrat which began in 1995. The eruption was one of the most dramatic volcanic events of recent decades and has shown a wide variety of geological phenomena – some of which had never been witnessed anywhere else or on such a large scale within historical times. Extended captions provided additional insight into the processes and dynamics of this spectacular eruption making the book a true synergy of science and art.
“From cover to cover, this volume depicts the multiple moods and colours of the mountain and its environs and the baleful effects of the eruption on people and places,” commented Sir Howard Fergus, former Professor of Eastern Caribbean Studies at UWI. “This publication satisfies while whetting the appetite for research whether in history, volcanology or photographic art,” added Fergus.
Dr. Paul Cole, Editor and Photographer for Island of Fire and Director of Montserrat Volcano Observatory said, "The book is not simply an exhibition of photographs; it also includes an explanation of the science behind each photographs. One of the objectives of the book was to feature photographs that the public rarely gets to see, such as close views of the lava dome and the devastation of Plymouth in the exclusion zone." He also added that, "Island of Fire can be taken at a number of levels, simply enjoying the photographs or taking in the science found in the captions and explanations at the start of each chapter."
