Soufriere Hills

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) has announced its involvement in an international research project led by the University of Bristol. The 3.7 million pound project, titled: Ex-X: Expecting the Unexpected, is focused on improving the detection and understanding of dangerous escalations in volcanic activity. The MVO was represented by Dr Adam Stinton at the project’s initial workshop in Bristol from January 12th to 13th, 2026. The project is being led by Professor Jenni Barclay from Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences, and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. Initial research will focus on three volcanic systems in the Eastern Caribbean: Soufrière Volcano in St Vincent, Mount Pelée in Martinique, and Soufrière Hills Volcano in Montserrat. This research builds on recent advances in volcanology, seismology, and numerical modelling. The international collaboration includes UK researchers from the universities of Bristol, Plymouth, East Anglia, Manchester, and Oxford, alongside partners in the Eastern Caribbean, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, and the Paris Institute of Earth Physics, which is responsible for the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The project also includes researchers from the USA, Germany, and Italy.