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Manam

Stratovolcano · Papua New Guinea · 1807m

The 10-km-wide island of Manam is one of Papua New Guinea's most active volcanoes. Four large radial valleys extend from the unvegetated summit to its lower flanks and two summit craters are present. Most eruptions during the past century have originated from the southern crater, concentrating eruptive products into the SE avalanche valley, seen here from off the east coast of the island. Frequent eruptions have been recorded since 1616.
The 10-km-wide island of Manam is one of Papua New Guinea's most active volcanoes. Four large radial valleys extend from the unvegetated summit to its lower flanks and two summit craters are present. Most eruptions during the past century have originated from the southern crater, concentrating eruptive products into the SE avalanche valley, seen here from off the east coast of the island. Frequent eruptions have been recorded since 1616. · Photo: Photo by Wally Johnson (Australia Bureau of Mineral Resources). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Papua New Guinea
Region
Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Bismarck Volcanic Arc
Elevation
1807m
Coordinates
-4.080, 145.037
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

The 10-km-wide island of Manam, lying 13 km off the northern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, is one of the country's most active volcanoes. Four large radial valleys extend from the unvegetated summit of the conical basaltic-andesitic stratovolcano to its lower flanks. These valleys channel lava flows and pyroclastic avalanches that have sometimes reached the coast. Five small satellitic centers are located near the island's shoreline on the northern, southern, and western sides. Two summit craters are present; both are active, although most observed eruptions have originated from the southern crater, concentrating eruptive products during much of the past century into the SE valley. Frequent eruptions, typically of mild-to-moderate scale, have been recorded since 1616. Occasional larger eruptions have produced pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached flat-lying coastal areas and entered the sea, sometimes impacting populated areas.

From Wikipedia

Manam, known locally as Manam Motu, is an island located in the Bismarck Sea across the Stephan Strait from Yawar on the northeast coast of mainland Papua New Guinea's Bogia District. The island is 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) wide, and was created by the activity of the Manam Volcano, one of the country’s most active. The island was evacuated in 2004 and its residents resettled elsewhere in Papua New Guinea, but many have begun to return despite concerns of future volcanic activity. Manam is still erupting as of January 2024.

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Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1616~1656 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21696~1737 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1817~1857 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21857~1897 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 21897~1938 · 16 eruptions · max VEI 41938~1978 · 12 eruptions · max VEI 31978~2018 · 10 eruptions · max VEI 416161696181718971978

Detailed timeline

  1. 2018VEI 4Observed
    2018-06-10 – 2026-03-16
    Southern and Main Craters
  2. 2014VEI 4Observed
    2014-06-29 – 2017-09-02
    Southern and Main craters
  3. 2010VEI 3Observed
    2010-08-10 – 2013-12-15
    South Crater, Main Crater
  4. 2004VEI 4Observed
    2004-10-24 – 2009-12-12
    South Crater, Main Crater
  5. 2003VEI 1Observed
    2003-05-17 – 2003-05-23
    Main Crater
  6. 2003VEI 1Observed
    2003-10-26 – 2004-03-28
    Main Crater
  7. 2002VEI 3Observed
    2002-01-13 – 2002-05-21
    South Crater
  8. 2002VEI 2Observed
    2002-10-31 – Ongoing
  9. 2001VEI 2Observed
    2001-06-14 – 2001-06-25
  10. 2000VEI 2Observed
    2000-06-03 – 2000-06-04
    South Crater
  11. 1974VEI 3Observed
    1974-03-04 – 1999-11-09
    South Crater, Main Crater
  12. 1965VEI 2Observed
    1965-07-02 – 1966-01-25
    South Crater
  13. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-02-15 – 1963-05-08
    South Crater
  14. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-11-26 – 1964-04-16
    South Crater
  15. 1962VEI 2Observed
    1962-04-16 – Ongoing
    South Crater
  16. 1961VEI 2Observed
    1961-07-16 – 1961-09-16
    South Crater
  17. 1959VEI 2Observed
    1959-06-16 – 1959-07-16
    South Crater
  18. 1959VEI 2Observed
    1959-12-16 – 1960-12-16
    Main Crater, South Crater
  19. 1956VEI 3Observed
    1956-12-08 – 1958-08-16
    South Crater, Main Crater
  20. 1954VEI 2Observed
    1954-05-16 – 1954-06-16
  21. 1953VEI 2Observed
    1953-04-16 – 1953-08-16
  22. 1946VEI 3Observed
    1946-12-01 – 1947-09
    South Crater
  23. 1936VEI 3Observed
    1936-09 – 1939
    Main Crater, South Crater
  24. 1932VEI 2Observed
    1932 – 1934
  25. 1926VEI 2Observed
    1926-03 – 1928-03-01
  26. 1925VEI 2Observed
    1925 – Ongoing
  27. 1924VEI 2Geological estimate
    1924 – Ongoing
  28. 1923VEI 2Geological estimate
    1923 – Ongoing
  29. 1922VEI 3Observed
    1922 – Ongoing
  30. 1920VEI 2Observed
    1920-12-05 – 1921-03
  31. 1919VEI 4Observed
    1919-08-11 – Ongoing
    South Crater, Main Crater
  32. 1917VEI 2Observed
    1917 – Ongoing
  33. 1909VEI 2Observed
    1909 – 1914
  34. 1907VEI ?Geological estimate
    1907 – Ongoing
  35. 1904VEI ?Observed
    1904-04-30 – Ongoing
  36. 1904VEI 3Observed
    1904-10-26 – 1904-10-27
  37. 1901VEI ?Geological estimate
    1901 – 1902
  38. 1899 (±1 yrs)VEI 2Observed
    1899 – Ongoing
    Main Crater, South Crater
  39. 1887VEI 2Observed
    1887-06 – 1895
  40. 1885VEI ?Observed
    1885-05 – Ongoing
  41. 1884VEI ?Geological estimate
    1884 – Ongoing
  42. 1877VEI 2Observed
    1877-10-29 – 1877-11-13
    South Crater
  43. 1830VEI 2Observed
    1830 – Ongoing
  44. 1700VEI ?Observed
    1700-04-02 – Ongoing
    South Crater
  45. 1643VEI 2Observed
    1643-04-21 – Ongoing
  46. 1616VEI 2Observed
    1616-07-06 – Ongoing

External links

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