"Activity remained at a very low level. Emissions from both summit craters were characterized by weak white vapour. After 2 months of deflation, summit inflation resumed, as indicated by ~3 µrad of radial tilting recorded by the water tube tiltmeter at Tabele Observatory during July. The daily frequency of volcanic earthquakes decreased from 1,200 to 200 during the first three weeks then increased to 1,100 at the end of the month. Seismic amplitudes showed a decrease by half between the beginning and the end of the month."

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: H. Patia and C. McKee, RVO.