Ulawun Volcano Eruptions
stratovolcano 2334 m / 7,657 ft
New Britain, Papua New Guinea, -5.05°S / 151.33°E
Eruption list: 2010-2011 (ongoing), 2000-08, 1994, 1993, 1989, 1985, 1984-85, 1984, 1983-84, 1980, 1978, 1973, 1970, 1967, 1963, 1960-62, 1958, 1951?, 1941, 1937?, 1927, 1919, 1918, 1915, 1898, 1878, 1700
Eruptions of Ulawun volcano
2010 activity
On 14-15 February 2010, ash eruptions from Ulawun volcano reached a height of 3.7 km and drifted 95 km.
2009 earthquake
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit 10 km west of Ulawun volcano on 28 May 2009.
2006-7 eruptions
In 2006 and 2007, frequent, near-continuous ash eruptions produced plumes up to 4.6 km high, drifting mostly into (north-)westerly directions.
The tallest plume of the reporting interval (22 March 2006 - 18 Jan 2007) rose to 4.6 km altitude.
2005 eruptions
Frequent ash and steam plumes produced by small eruptions were reported during March-August 2005.
2001-2003 eruptions
Intermittent ash eruptions produced small ash plumes reaching up to 3-4 km altitude durinng most of 2001-2003.
2001 large eruption
An aircraft reported a large ash plume reaching 9 km, indicating a larger explosion had happened. Satellite measurements revealed that the eruption had stopped by 30 April. The ash plume may have reached a maximum of 40,000 ft (ca. 14 km).
September 2000 eruption
One of the largest historical eruptions occurred between 28 September - 2 October 2000.
After a rappid build-up in seismic activity, a small eruption started on 28 Sep, increasing to strombolian activity at 01h20 on 29 Sep. Later that day, the eruption escalated into a vulcanian or sub-Plinian type explosion, producing an ash column reaching 12-15 km height.
The peak phase of the eruption lasted less than 1 day and by 30 Sep, the eruption had already waned almost completely. It produced 3 pyroclastic flows, which traveled down pre-existing gullies on the N, NW, and SE flanks, along the same paths as flows during previous eruptions. The N-directed pyroclastic flow was the biggest and descended to 580 m elevation. There were no lava flows.
The eruption caused the evacuation of nearby towns, caused significant damage, but there were no fatalities.
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Source:
Smithsonian / GVP monthly reports
1999 eruptions
The first week explosions after 6.5 years of quiet were seen in mid October 1999.
1994 activity - weak glow
Strong vapor emissions and a steady weak red glow from the summit were observed in June 1994.
1992-4 weak activity
Most of 1992-1994 was characterized by infrequent small explosions. A faint glow was often visible at the summit lava dome.
A dense eruption column of dark ash was erupted 1,000 m above summit on 12 January.
1989-1992 activity: weak-moderate vapor emission
1989 Jan eruptions
A moderate eruption in early January 1989 ejects ash to 2 km. In the next months, occasional smaller eruptions occur, and the volcano enters a calm phase.
1985 November strombolian eruption & lava flow
A brief, spectacular Strombolian eruption took place 17-22 November, developing rapidly after about five days of precursory seismicity.
The height of the strombolian ejections reached 200 m above the crater and a lava flow started to descend the N slope in the early evening of the 18 Nov. This flow originated from a fissure about 70 m below the summit crater and reached the lower slopes at 5.5 km distance, where its advance was coming to a halt.
Spectacular lava fountains were observed during the niight of the 18th Nov.
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Source: GVP monthly reports
1984 strombolian eruption
A low-intensity Strombolian eruption occurred between late December 1984 and terminated on or around 27 January 1985.
1983 eruptions
Mild explosive activity dominated 1983.
1983 large eruption
A short, but major eruption occurred at Ulawun between 6 and 7 October 1983. It ejected ash to 60,000 ft and produced pyroclastic flows which swept all flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of 20 sq km.
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Excerpt from the Smithsonian (SEAN 05:10) bulletin):
"By about 0735 (7 Oct) the upper part of the eruption column was spreading out more noticeably and the clouds on the volcano's flanks had become more voluminous. The diameter of the `mushroom'top of the cloud was estimated at 50-60 km. The eruption column continued to be fed by apparently frequent explosions in the crater but only slight upward growth was evident. The volcano gradually became obscured as the eruption cloud began to dissipate. By 1000 the volcano was totally obscured down to its base, and at Ulamona the darkness was total for several hours. The ash cloud drifted slowly towards the SW and was thick enough to cause 1 hour of total darkness in mid-afternoon at Bialla, 45 km from the crater."
May 1978: major eruption
A large eruption occurred between 9-14 May. It produced lava flow, ash fall and nuée ardente. It was a flank eruption which may have contributed to structural instability.
1973 effusive eruption
An eruption during 4-19 October produced lava flows and ejecta from five vents.
1970 major eruption
A large explosive and effusive eruption produced pyroclastic flows and lava flows. The eruption devastated the NW flank of Ulawun and reshaped the summit crater.
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R.A. Davies (1970) "The 1970 eruption of Mt. Ulawun, New Britain", Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
1915 eruption
A large eruption deposited 10 cm of ash at Toriu, 50 km northeast of the volcano.
1700 eruption
The first historic eruption of Ulawun was recorded by the British explorer William Dampier during his second circumnavigation 1699-1701, published in his book "A Voyage to New Holland" (1703 / 1909)
Source: Dampier, W. (1906) "Dampier's voyages", Grant Richards, London, pp. 522-549