"During most days in December, the summit crater was covered by clouds. When the weather was clear, moderate to strong white vapour emissions were observed. Seismicity was mainly characterized by bands of low-amplitude, high-frequency, harmonic tremor. The daily average of tremor bands was 8, and the mean total duration was 15 hours/day. The tremor bands were accompanied by B-type volcanic events that increased in number and amplitude during the last week of the month."

Geological Summary. The symmetrical basaltic-to-andesitic Ulawun stratovolcano is the highest volcano of the Bismarck arc, and one of Papua New Guinea's most frequently active. The volcano, also known as the Father, rises above the N coast of the island of New Britain across a low saddle NE of Bamus volcano, the South Son. The upper 1,000 m is unvegetated. A prominent E-W escarpment on the south may be the result of large-scale slumping. Satellitic cones occupy the NW and E flanks. A steep-walled valley cuts the NW side, and a flank lava-flow complex lies to the south of this valley. Historical eruptions date back to the beginning of the 18th century. Twentieth-century eruptions were mildly explosive until 1967, but after 1970 several larger eruptions produced lava flows and basaltic pyroclastic flows, greatly modifying the summit crater.

Information Contacts: H. Patia and P. Lowenstein, RVO.