Location: 5.6S, 150.5E
Elevation: 742 m
Last Update: April 27, 2004
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
Volcanic and seismic activity remained at low levels: Small amounts of "fume"
were released with trace amounts of SO2. A local tectonic earthquake on 9 August
led to an increase in energy release and number of earthquakes recorded at one
seismic station.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
March 11, 2003
Lava continued to flow, but at slower rates than before. Along the fissure
system, and from the summit crater, vapor continued to be emitted. Seismicity
remained at low levels and a decrease in the number earthquakes was reported.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
Seismicity continued at low levels; no significant ground deformation was recorded.
Also, lava flows continued and white vapor was released from vents in the fissure
system. Incandescence was visible on the evening of the 28th.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
Through Dec. 2nd, effusive lava accompanied with vapor continued to erupt.
Also small volcanotectonic earthquakes, stayed at background levels.
November 19, 2002
Volcanic activity continued but residents in low-risk areas were allowed to
return to their residences.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
November 5, 2002
On Nov. 3, a low-level ash plume was visible on satellite imagery.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
Volcanic activity has continued and scientists found that inflation has continued
with ~1 cm of uplift occurring in the past month. Fifteen thousand residents
have been evacuated since activity began in August.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
Large volumes of lava continue to flow from a vent in the NE portion of a fissure
system inside the caldera.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
September 10, 2002
On September 7 and 8, a 1.5-km high ash-and-steam plume drifting northwest was
observed on satellite images.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
September 3, 2002
Lava erupted from four of the five craters northwest of the Pago central cone during August 25th to September 3rd. The largest amount of lava was emitted from the lowest cone, the lava flowed northeast and then was directed southeast after reaching the crater wall. No eruption from the cone was observed, only blue-white fumarolic gas was emitted.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
August 20, 2002
Intermittent eruptions with low ash content produced low-level plumes on the
16th. The low level of activity was expected to continue according to the Rabual
Volcano Observatory.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
August 13, 2002
The eruption that began last week is still continuing through this week. The
eruption was characterized by the ejection of light gray to dark ash clouds,
with very little ash being deposited in areas around the volcano.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
August 6, 2002
An eruption that began on August 5th at approximately 05:30 (local time) caused
an 18-kilometers wide ash cloud that rose to 1.2 kilometers above sea level
and extending 37 kilometers northwest. Another eruption occurred around midday,
raining ash on Hoskins. The Rabaul Volcano Observatory reported that eruptions
were continuing on August 6 at 1800 (local time) with the ash plume moving north-northwest
to north.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

Space Shuttle photo STS61A-0487-0012 looking northeast along central-east
New Britain.

Volcanoes of the eastern arc (New Britain Island) in the south Bismarck Sea.
From Johnson (1976).
Johnson, R.W., 1976, Late Cainozoic volcanism and plate tectonics at the southern margin of the Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea, in Johnson, R.W., ed., 1976, Volcanism in Australia: Amsterdam, Elsevier, p. 101-116.
Simkin, T., and Siebert, L., 1994, Volcanoes of the World: Geoscience Press, Tucson, Arizona, 349 p.
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