"Visibility at Manam was very poor during most of June due to atmospheric cloud cover. When it was clear, white vapors, weak to moderate in volume, were seen released from both Southern Crater and Main Crater. A small quantity of blue vapor was released from Southern Crater on 11 June. There were no audible sounds from either crater. Weak summit glow was observed over Southern Crater on 2 and 3 June. A small decrease in low frequency seismic events occurred on 18 June with a declining trend during the second half 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: Ima Itikarai and Ben Talai, RVO.