Pago, New Britain

Location: 5.6S, 150.5E
Elevation: 742 m
Last Update: April 27,
2004

 

 


April 13, 2004

Volcanic and seismic activity remained at low levels during the end of March; continuous weak vapor emission was observed as well as incandescence on the 17th.

This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report


August 19, 2003

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


January 7, 2003

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


December 3, 2002

Through Dec. 2nd, effusive lava accompanied with vapor continued to erupt. Also small volcanotectonic earthquakes, stayed at background levels.

This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

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


October 15, 2002

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


October 1, 2002

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).



Sources of Information:

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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