Balbi Volcano
Updated: Apr 18, 2024 17:09 GMT -
stratovolcano 2715 m 8,907 feet
North Solomons Province (Papua New Guinea), -5.92°S / 154.98°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
North Solomons Province (Papua New Guinea), -5.92°S / 154.98°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 13 Dec 2021 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Balbi is a large stratovolcano and the highest point on Bougainville Island, Northern Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea.
It is not certain whether the volcano has erupted in historic times, as some local traditions suggest. An active fumarole field is located at Balbi's 600 m wide summit crater and on its western flank.
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Balbi volcano eruptions: unconfirmed eruptions in
Latest nearby earthquakes
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Background
Balbi volcano is a complex andesitic volcano, composed of many craters, lava domes and cinder cones. 5 young craters are along a NW-SE ridge north of the summit cone. 3 large amphitheatre-shaped valleys have been formed by debris avalanches on the southern, NE and northern flanks of the volcano. The largest of these on the northern side is 7 km long, 3 km wide, and 610 m deep.The volcano is covered with thick forest up to 1300 m elevation, followed by thickets of bamboo dominating 1300 m to 2300 m elevation. Above 2300 m, moss dominates.
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Sources:
- Smithsonian / GVP volcano information
- Whitmore, T.C. (1969) "The Vegetation of the Solomon Islands", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, Vol. 255, No. 800, pp. 259-270
Eruptions of Balbi volcano
2008 false eruption report
The Rabaul volcano observatory (RVO) reported that Balbi volcano had an eruption on 7 May 2008. The report could not be verified and there was no ash visible on satellite images.
RVO later confirmed that Balbi did NOT erupt on 7 May and that the reports it had were referring to thunderstorm activity. (USGS / GVP weekly reports)
The Rabaul volcano observatory (RVO) reported that Balbi volcano had an eruption on 7 May 2008. The report could not be verified and there was no ash visible on satellite images.
RVO later confirmed that Balbi did NOT erupt on 7 May and that the reports it had were referring to thunderstorm activity. (USGS / GVP weekly reports)
1984-95 observations of fumarolic activity
A few, mostly aerial observations are available for Balbi volcano's activity in the 1980s and 1990s. The confirm vigorous fumarolic activity mainly in the second summit crater (Crater B). No significant changes were observed, but the observations suggest that the volcano is only dormant. ...more info
A few, mostly aerial observations are available for Balbi volcano's activity in the 1980s and 1990s. The confirm vigorous fumarolic activity mainly in the second summit crater (Crater B). No significant changes were observed, but the observations suggest that the volcano is only dormant. ...more info
19th century possible eruptions
It is possible, but unlikely that there were eruptions of Balbi volcano in the 19th century. ...more info
It is possible, but unlikely that there were eruptions of Balbi volcano in the 19th century. ...more info
Latest satellite images
