"The water tube tiltmeter at Tabele Observatory recorded a progressive radial deflation since 10 April which amounted to 6 µrad by the end of May. In April and early May there was no visible or seismic response to this tilt trend and both summit craters released white vapour in weak to moderate amounts.

"On 14 May, grey-brown ash clouds were occasionally emitted forcefully from Southern Crater, and a fluctuating glow was seen from 2125 onward, later accompanied by incandescent projections to 120 m above the crater rim. By 2300 the seismicity had increased markedly in amplitude (2x) and remained so until month's end. In the following days, brown ash-laden clouds were intermittently ejected from Southern Crater, accompanied by deep rumbling noises, but no incandescent projections or night glow were observed."

Geological Summary. The 10-km-wide island of Manam, lying 13 km off the northern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, is one of the country's most active volcanoes. Four large radial valleys extend from the unvegetated summit of the conical basaltic-andesitic stratovolcano to its lower flanks. These valleys channel lava flows and pyroclastic avalanches that have sometimes reached the coast. Five small satellitic centers are located near the island's shoreline on the northern, southern, and western sides. Two summit craters are present; both are active, although most observed eruptions have originated from the southern crater, concentrating eruptive products during much of the past century into the SE valley. Frequent eruptions, typically of mild-to-moderate scale, have been recorded since 1616. Occasional larger eruptions have produced pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached flat-lying coastal areas and entered the sea, sometimes impacting populated areas.

Information Contacts: P. de Saint-Ours and C. McKee, RVO.