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Report on Manam (Papua New Guinea) — 13 February-19 February 2013


Manam

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 February-19 February 2013
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Report on Manam (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 13 February-19 February 2013. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (13 February-19 February 2013)

Manam

Papua New Guinea

4.08°S, 145.037°E; summit elev. 1807 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Based on observations of satellite imagery and wind data analyses, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume from Manam was observed on 12 February at an altitude of 10.1 km (33,000 ft) a.s.l. On 16 February an ash plume rose to an altitude of 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted over 35 km NW.

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.

Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)