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Report on Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) — 15 November-21 November 2006


Rabaul

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 15 November-21 November 2006
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2006. Report on Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 15 November-21 November 2006. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (15 November-21 November 2006)

Rabaul

Papua New Guinea

4.2459°S, 152.1937°E; summit elev. 688 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


RVO reported that during 14-20 November eruptions occurred at Rabaul caldera's active Tavurvur cone. On 14 November, a large explosion produced an ash plume that rose to 2.7 km (8,900 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW. Lava fragments fell onto the flanks and into the sea. Continuous ash emissions followed. During 15-18 and 20 November, continuous emissions of white vapor and gray ash clouds produced plumes that rose to 0.8-3.2 km (2,600-10,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S, E, N, and NW. On 19 November only thick white vapor clouds were emitted. Fine ashfall was reported downwind on 20 November.

Geological Summary. The low-lying Rabaul caldera on the tip of the Gazelle Peninsula at the NE end of New Britain forms a broad sheltered harbor utilized by what was the island's largest city prior to a major eruption in 1994. The outer flanks of the asymmetrical shield volcano are formed by thick pyroclastic-flow deposits. The 8 x 14 km caldera is widely breached on the east, where its floor is flooded by Blanche Bay and was formed about 1,400 years ago. An earlier caldera-forming eruption about 7,100 years ago is thought to have originated from Tavui caldera, offshore to the north. Three small stratovolcanoes lie outside the N and NE caldera rims. Post-caldera eruptions built basaltic-to-dacitic pyroclastic cones on the caldera floor near the NE and W caldera walls. Several of these, including Vulcan cone, which was formed during a large eruption in 1878, have produced major explosive activity during historical time. A powerful explosive eruption in 1994 occurred simultaneously from Vulcan and Tavurvur volcanoes and forced the temporary abandonment of Rabaul city.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)