"Activity has been low and decreasing steadily since the last mild eruptive period in February. The only visible sign of activity was the intermittent release of thin plumes of white vapour from both Southern and Main Craters. Seismicity has decreased progressively since August, both in the number of events (down to <500 events/day at the end of the month) and in amplitude (now at the lowest background level since July-August 1987). The radial tiltmeter . . . has been showing a low, flat trend since July."

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