BAGANA Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea 6.14°S, 155.19°E; summit elev. 1,750 m; All times are local (= UTC + 10 hours) Reports from 2004: | April | May | Reports from 2005: | March | May | June | July | August | Bagana Information from the SI/USGS Global Volcanism Program ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21-27 April 2004 A helicopter pilot reported to RVO that new lava was being emitted from Bagana around 1240 on 27 April. According to information from the village of Torokina, the lava flow was estimated to be about 8-9 km from the village. RVO was uncertain about the local topography between the volcano and Torokina, and therefore could not assess the degree of danger for the residents of the village from the lava flow. RVO has no monitoring equipment at Bagana. Source: Rabaul Volcanological Observatory 28 April- 4 May 2004 According to a news article, following the emission of new lava from Bagana on 27 April, local volcanologists and a team of provincial disaster delegates conducted an aerial inspection of the area around the volcano on 2 May. The team concluded that the lava flows were not an immediate threat to the safety of villagers near the volcano. A spokesperson for Papua New Guinea's national Disaster Center reportedly said, "the aerial inspection team noted a continual effusion of lava flowing in a south-westerly direction but there is a lot of vegetation in the area which is acting as a buffer." Sources: Australian Associated Press, Reuters 26 May- 1 June 2004 An ash plume from Bagana was visible on satellite imagery during 26-27 May. The plume reached a height of ~3 km a.s.l. and extended ~130 km NW. Source: Darwin VAAC 16-22 March 2005 The Darwin VAAC reported that on 17 March at 0726 a very small plume and hot spot were visible on satellite imagery. Source: Darwin VAAC 11-17 May 2005 Satellite imagery taken at 0551 on 13 May revealed a thin plume extending 28 km (15 nm) ESE below 3 km altitude (10,000 feet). Similar plumes, blowing W, were identified at 0537 on the 14th and at 0634 on 15 May. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 1-7 June 2005 A plume from Bagana was observed on satellite imagery on 7 June initially extending 65 km WSW, then W later in the day. The height of the plume was not known. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 8-14 June 2005 During 8-10 June, several low-level plumes emitted from Bagana were visible on satellite imagery. They extended predominately to the WSW. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 15-21 June 2005 A plume from Bagana was visible on satellite imagery on 21 June extending W. The height of the plume was not reported. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 29 June- 5 July 2005 A thin plume emitted from Bagana was visible on satellite imagery on 30 June. The height of the plume was not reported. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 10-16 August 2005 Based on information from the US Air Force Weather Agency, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume from Bagana was visible at a height of ~3 km (10,000 ft a.s.l.), extending ~40 km SW of the summit. The Darwin VAAC did not see ash on satellite imagery. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 17-23 August 2005 During 15-21 August, volcanic activity at Bagana remained at low levels. Variable amounts of thick "white vapor" were emitted from the summit crater. During several nights, dull-to-moderately bright incandescence was visible. On the 20th, lava flowed from volcano's main crater. Incandescent lava avalanches occasionally originated from unstable areas of the lava flow. Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory via the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center