KICK ‘EM JENNY GRENADA’S ACTIVE UNDERSEA VOLCANO Prepared by NEMO Secretariat Saint Lucia With material from the Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Indies Based upon a presentation by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction

DISASTER RISKS FACED BY THE CARIBBEAN Source: Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction DISASTER RISKS FACED BY THE CARIBBEAN Source: Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction FIRES HURRICANES VOLCANOES FLOODS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DEVELOP POLICIES FOR ACTIONS HAVING HIGH BENEFIT/COST FOR THE CARIBBEAN REGION GOAL: REDUCE DISASTER RISK LANDSLIDES EARTHQUAKES MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Location

Kick 'em Jenny, located 8 km (5 m) north of Grenada. It rises 1,300 m (4,265 ft) from the sea floor of the Caribbean. It is the most active volcano in the Antilles Volcanic Arc. Volcano Stats

The summit is currently thought to be about 180m below the surface of the sea. So far Kick 'em Jenny is the only known 'live' (likely to erupt again) submarine volcano in the Eastern Caribbean. Volcano Stats

SeaBeam image of Kick 'em Jenny showing new craters and domes (March, 2003). During a research cruise in March 2003 scientists discovered three craters (C1, C2 and Kick 'em Jack) and two domes (D1 and D2) near Kick 'em Jenny. Further investigations are needed to confirm whether these are separate 'live' volcanoes. Volcano Stats

The major sequence of changes over the past forty years has been that a dome grew in the crater between 1976 and This dome collapsed in either 1988 or 1990 and there is now no trace of it left. There is in fact a new interior crater about 30 metres deep on the site where the dome used to be so it is more accurate to say that the active vent area of Kick 'em Jenny has in fact become deeper. Kick 'em Jenny has, therefore, NOT grown closer to the surface between Volcano Stats

It is also the most frequently active volcano in the region, erupting at least 12 times since it was discovered in The last eruption of Kick 'em Jenny occurred in December The volcano is currently at Alert Level YELLOW and there is 1.5km exclusion zone around the volcano. Volcano Stats

Volcano Alert Levels Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) GREEN Volcano is quiescent, seismic and fumarolic (steam vent) activity are at or below the historical level at this volcano. No other unusual activity has been observed. Normal monitoring

Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) YELLOW Volcano is restless; seismicity or fumarolic activity or both are above the historical level at this volcano or other unusual activity has been observed (this activity will be specified at the time that the alert level is raised). Monitoring system will be brought up to full capability. Civil authorities alerted. Communication system tested. Volcano Alert Levels

Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) ORANGE Highly elevated level of seismicity or fumarolic activity or both, or other highly unusual symptoms. Eruption may occur with less than 24 hours-notice. Monitoring system continuously manned. Regular visual inspection of potential vent areas. Continuous ground deformation and hydrothermal monitoring. Daily assessment reports to civil authorities. Entry to the restricted-access zone will be permitted to scientists after an evaluation on a case-to-case basis. Volcano Alert Levels

Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) RED Eruption is in progress or may occur without further warning. Measurements as permitted by safety conditions. Civil authorities advised continuously. Volcano Alert Levels

The thermal heating of the oceans associated with undersea volcanoes causes: 1) heat reaching the surface to be carried aloft into the atmosphere as part of the weather system, and 2) high-velocity winds that are driven over the land areas due to the temperature differentials. Volcano Stats

On March 18 th 2003 Scientists discovered a 1,2km high underwater volcano off Grenada's north coast and tentatively called it Kick 'em Jack - after its long-known neighbor Kick 'em Jenny. To date Kick 'em Jack is inactive. Brother Jack

THE RISKS

Currently there are over five thousand active underwater volcanoes in the world, varying in size from larger than any on the surface to some that are the size of an automobile. Risk: Global

Risk: Shipping there is 1.5km exclusion zone around the volcano.

An eruption of Kick 'em Jenny is capable of producing tsunami waves having a large vertical wave run up along the coast of the southern Caribbean Islands. Risk: Tsunami

Tsunami Travel Times from Kick-em-Jenny Source: Risk: Tsunami

Final Run-Up Values in Metres for a ‘Realistic’ Scenario Event at Kick-em-Jenny (VEI=3) SOURCE: Risk: Tsunami

THE KEY IS: 1) KNOW THE DISASTER HISTORY OF YOUR REGION 2) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY Lesson