Report on Bagana (Papua New Guinea) — February 1990
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 15, no. 2 (February 1990)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.
Bagana (Papua New Guinea) White and occasional gray emissions; summit extrusion of blocky lava continues
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 1990. Report on Bagana (Papua New Guinea) (McClelland, L., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 15:2. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199002-255020
Bagana
Papua New Guinea
6.137°S, 155.196°E; summit elev. 1855 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
"Mild eruptive activity continued in February. Regular reporting of observations ceased on the 12th but it appears that the more-or-less steady extrusion of viscous blocky lava continued through the month. Frequent rockfalls occurred on the W, S, and E flanks. Glow from the summit area was seen occasionally. Emissions were mostly white vapours, but grey emission clouds were reported on a few days."
Geological Summary. Bagana volcano, in a remote portion of central Bougainville Island, is frequently active. This massive symmetrical cone was largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesitic lava flows. The entire edifice could have been constructed in about 300 years at its present rate of lava production. Eruptive activity is characterized by non-explosive effusion of viscous lava that maintains a small lava dome in the summit crater, although occasional explosive activity produces pyroclastic flows. Lava flows with tongue-shaped lobes up to 50 m thick and prominent levees descend the flanks on all sides.
Information Contacts: C. McKee, RVO.
