A moderately thick white to brown plume was continuously released from the summit crater. Plume emission intensified 14-15 August when incandescent rockfalls down the N and W flanks and strong night glow from the summit were reported. On 29 August the summit crater was reported to be completely filled with a smoking lava dome that continued to feed the long-active lava flow on the N flank. Seismicity remained at a low level throughout the month, with 10-20 rockfall events/day.

Geological Summary. Bagana volcano, in a remote portion of central Bougainville Island, is frequently active. This massive symmetrical cone was largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesitic lava flows. The entire edifice could have been constructed in about 300 years at its present rate of lava production. Eruptive activity is characterized by non-explosive effusion of viscous lava that maintains a small lava dome in the summit crater, although occasional explosive activity produces pyroclastic flows. Lava flows with tongue-shaped lobes up to 50 m thick and prominent levees descend the flanks on all sides.

Information Contacts: C. McKee, P. de Saint-Ours, and P. Lowenstein, RVO.