Volcanic Activity Report on Ulawun (Papua New Guinea) — 10 July-16 July 2013

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 July-16 July 2013
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Report on Ulawun (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 July-16 July 2013. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. https://volcano.si.edu/showreport.cfm?gvpvar=GVP.WVAR20130710-252120

Ulawun

Papua New Guinea

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

RVO reported that activity at Ulawun was low during 1-14 July. Emissions from the summit crater consisted of white vapor during 1-7 July, and then changed to occasionally sub-continuous, light gray ash clouds during 8 and 11-14 July. Ash clouds changed to gray-brown on 14 July.

Seismic activity was low from 1 July through the early part of 13 July. RSAM increased from about 0700 on 14 July onwards with the emergence of continuous volcanic tremors until it reached a peak of 700 just after 0300 on 15 July. RVO noted that the last significant volcanic tremors at Ulawun were recorded in May and June 2012.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)

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.