Bagana Volcano Eruptions
lava cone (stratovolcano) 1750 m / 5,741 ft
Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, -6.14°S / 155.2°E
Eruption list: 2012, 1972-2011, 1970-71, 1968, 1966-67, 1964-65, 1962-63, 1961, 1959(?)-60, 1953, 1952, 1948-51, 1945-47, 1943, 1939, 1938, 1937, 1909(?), 1908, 1899, 1897, 1894-95, 1883, 1865-83, 1842
Eruptions of Bagana volcano
2008-11 activity
Bagana continues to erupt small ash explosions from time to time, producing ash plumes that rise to 2.4-3 km altitude and are monitored by the Darwin VAAC.
2008 earthquake
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred 38 km SW of Bagana volcano on Tuesday 23 December 2008.
2007-08 eruptions
Lava flows, ash explosions and pyroclastic flows occurred at Bagana volcano between June 2007 and March 2008.
[
hide]
On 12 June 2007, a strong ash emission was noted and glow was visible in the night of 14 June. This activity continued into July.
On 14 July, Bagana generated a powerful explosion that generated a pyroclastic flow, which descended the S flank and stopped at the base near a small hot-spring-fed lake located at the head of the Torokina river.
On 6 August, the lava flow from the summit crater on the SE flank became active again and continued through 23 August. Continuous incandescence was visible down the SE flank during 6-10 August.
The activity was occasionally accompanied by ash plumes generated by rockfalls from lava-flow edges. Darwin VAAC reported that a diffuse plume at an altitude of 3.7 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. on 23 August.
---
Source:
Smithsonian / GVP monthly reports
2004 eruptions
In April and May 2004, Bagana produced lava flows which traveled 3 km from the summit and came within 3 km of some villages.
1966 eruption
A large ash eruption occurred on 30 May 1966 and generated pyroclastic flows.
1962 eruption
Bagana's activity increased in early 1962 and culminated in a major strombolian-type eruption on 15 February. Lava bursts followed at intervals of 5-10 minutes. Earthquakes and ash emissions continued until April.
1950 eruption
The first time pyroclastic flows were reported from remote Bagana volcano was in 1950, when the summit contained a lava dome, which generated pyroclastic flows by partial collapse. Violent explosions occurred between June and October 1950 and were accompanied by intense earthquakes and loud ash explosions generating ash plumes rising to up to 3-4 km altitude.
1943 effusive eruption
A new lava flow appeared on the NNE flank of Bagana volcano in late March or early April 1943, as aerial photos taken between 18 February and 7 April showed.
1937 eruption
The sound of a loud explosion from Bagana was heard in Kieta village 50 km away in September 1937, when a new eruption began at Bagana. The The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 9 September:
"A violent volcanic eruption began on Tuesday morning at Mt. Bagana, near Kieta, on the island of Bougainville, 250 miles south-east of Rabaul. Columns of smoke rose more than 15,000 feet.
There is no danger to the township of Kieta but the area near the mountain is thickly populated by natives."
1875 eruption
Dense steam and ash clouds were observed at Bagana volcano from the German ship SMS Gazelle on 25 August 1875.
[
hide]
Source:
von Schleinitz, G.E.G. (1876) "Die Expedition S.M.S. "Gazelle". VII.Reise S.M.S. 'Gazelle'. Capitain zur See Freiherr v. Schleinitz, von Amboina bis Brisbane In Ost-Australien", Annalen der Hydrographie und Maritimen Meteorologie 4, 1-14
(collected by / available at:
University of Hamburg Library:
https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=1/SET=2/TTL=21/SHW?FRST=29,
or:
PACIFIC MANUSCRIPTS BUREAU Room 4201, Coombs Building, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia)
