Canadian Researchers Use Geophysics to Explore Montserrat’s Hot Water Resources
A team of researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada is currently visiting the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) from May 6 to June 6, 2025. The group is using a geophysical technique called magnetotellurics (MT) to study the distribution of hot water beneath the island.
MT uses natural radio signals to look deep inside the Earth and can detect variations in water content from the surface down to depths of more than 10 kilometers. The research team is conducting measurements across Montserrat, with a special focus on the areas surrounding the geothermal wells.
This work builds on a previous MT survey conducted in 2009 by Dr. Graham Ryan, current Director of MVO. The 2025 study forms part of the RESET project, led by the University of Oxford, which is investigating Montserrat’s geothermal energy potential and the possibility of extracting metals dissolved in geothermal fluids.
The visiting team is led by Professor Martyn Unsworth, who has applied the MT method to geothermal and volcanic settings in several countries. He is joined by graduate students Anna Redanz and Andrew Williamson from the University of Alberta.
MVO is pleased to support this research, which contributes to a greater understanding of the island’s geothermal resources and their future potential.
