"The non-eruptive activity at Southern Crater that began during the second half of December continued throughout January. Emissions consisted of white vapour being released at low-moderate volumes, accompanied by thin blue vapour. Weak night glow was visible throughout the month when the summit was clear. Main Crater continued to release weak-to-moderate volumes of white vapour. No significant change was shown by the water-tube tiltmeter . . . . The seismograph was not operational during January.

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, R. Stewart, and B. Talai, RVO.