"Both craters released weak emissions of white vapour. However, some greyish, ash-laden clouds were also occasionally emitted. Between 5 and 9 June, deep roaring sounds were heard from Southern Crater and plumes of ash occasionally rose to 150-700 m above the crater rims. Similar activity recurred between 25 and 29 June. Although no night glow was observed, the seismicity was at a moderately high level and radial tilt measurements fluctuated by 3 µrad."

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, RVO.