Dukono has generated intermittent minor ash plumes since before July 2008 (BGVN 33:08, 33:11, 35:04). The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) has provided satellite surveillance. Table 11 extends the table of ash plumes presented in BGVN 35:04 through 4 April 2011.

Table 11. Ash plumes reported from Dukono between 30 May 2010 and 4 April 2011, based on data from the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. Each date or date range represents at least one plume.

During the reporting period (1 June 2010- 4 April 2011), there were four thermal alerts derived from the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology Thermal Alerts System (MODVOLC). They were on 1 and 10 September and 6 and 20 November 2010.

Arnold Binas uploaded photos and video showing Dukono ongoing ash emissions during late January 2010 (Binas, 2010, 2011). The video takes the form of an excursion from an adjacent settlement, approach to the volcano, and finally some shots taken at the crater rim. In addition, he posted several still photos of Dukono on Flickr (Binas, 2010). The photo titled "Inside the Dukono crater" noted frequent pulses of ash rising from the crater and his 6 hours on the crater rim led to only one partial view into the crater interior.

References. Binas, A., 2011, Halmahera ? Dukono Volcano 2010, YouTube (URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqMax2hqxMo).

Binas, A., 2010, Indonesian volcanoes 2010, hshdude photostream, Flickr (URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hshdude/sets/72157623718033396).

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/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) MODVOLC Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/); Arnold Binas (aka, hshdude), Australia.