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Report on Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker (Papua New Guinea) — 23 November-29 November 2005


Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker

Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
23 November-29 November 2005
Managing Editor: Gari Mayberry

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2005. Report on Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker (Papua New Guinea). In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 23 November-29 November 2005. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (23 November-29 November 2005)

Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker

Papua New Guinea

5.416°S, 150.027°E; summit elev. 564 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


During 21-27 November, two vents at the summit of Garbuna continued to release weak-to-moderate volumes of steam that rose a few hundred meters above the summit and drifted in various directions. No incandescence was seen at the volcano and no noises were heard. Seismicity was at very low levels.

Geological Summary. The basaltic-to-dacitic Krummel-Garbuna-Welcker Volcanic Complex consists of three volcanic peaks located along a 7-km N-S line above a shield-like foundation at the southern end of the Willaumez Peninsula. The central and lower peaks of the centrally located Garbuna contain a large vegetation-free area that is probably the most extensive thermal field in Papua New Guinea. A prominent lava dome and blocky lava flow in the center of thermal area have resisted destruction by thermal activity, and may be of Holocene age. Krummel volcano at the south end of the group contains a summit crater, breached to the NW. The highest peak of the group is Welcker volcano, which has fed blocky lava flows that extend to the eastern coast of the peninsula. The last major eruption from both it and Garbuna volcanoes took place about 1800 years ago. The first historical eruption took place at Garbuna in October 2005.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) via the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center