Satellite imagery for 8 December showed ash plumes at ~ 3 km altitude extending 90-190 km WSW from Dukono. During 10-17 and 24-30 December, thin ash plumes were sometimes visible on satellite imagery extending E to a maximum distance of ~ 90 km. During 31 December to 6 January, low-intensity eruptions at Dukono continued to produce plumes to low levels that extended to ~ 185 km SE.

Geological Summary. Reports from this remote volcano in northernmost Halmahera are rare, but Dukono has been one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. More-or-less continuous explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have occurred since 1933. During a major eruption in 1550 CE, a lava flow filled in the strait between Halmahera and the N-flank Gunung Mamuya cone. This complex volcano presents a broad, low profile with multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters. Malupang Wariang, 1 km SW of the summit crater complex, contains a 700 x 570 m crater that has also been active during historical time.

Information Contacts: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/).