Activity at both summit craters of Manam was low throughout February. Both craters emitted continuous weak white vapor. Glow was observed at Southern crater on the nights of 3, 5-9, 14-18, and 25-27 February, but there were no sounds.

Seismic activity showed no significant change: 1,100-1,300 low-frequency earthquakes of very low magnitude were recorded daily. Following a deflation of ~1.5 µrad in January, radial tilt as measured at Tabele stabilized for February.

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: Ben Talai, RVO.