Air Quality Monitoring

The ambient concentration of volcanic ash in the atmosphere has major impacts on hazard assessment and decisions on habitable areas following an eruption. The acceptable concentrations of volcanic ash in the atmosphere are set in accordance with air quality standards and exposure limits for the country affected. The Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat, West Indies, has been producing airborne ash since the onset of the current eruption in 1995. An extensive programme of Air Quality Monitoring has been set up on the island, allowing long-term assessment of concentrations of atmospheric dust concentrations as well as warning the population and air traffic control in the event of 'alert level' concentrations immediately following an eruption.